Margaret Cody

Margaret Frances Cody, long time resident of Rochester, Washington, passed away Thursday, June 24, 2021 at Providence Hospital in Centralia, Washington. She was 78. Known to her friends as Marge and to her family as Margie or Gram, she was born on January 30, 1943 in Seattle, Washington to Helen (Giedt) and Benjamin Hammond. She was an only child.

At the age of seven the family moved to Rochester where they owned a small farm. As a child, Margaret liked working and playing on the farm and feeding the pigs. In high school, she earned letters in FFA and 4H and as a yell leader. After graduating high school in 1961, she attended Western Washington University for two years where she studied business before marrying Roland (Rod) Ritter in 1964. The couple had two daughters, Sheri Diane and Shannon Lynn. In 1976 Margaret married Adrian Cody, proprietor of Centralia Bowl.

Prior to the birth of her first child, Marge worked as a secretary for the State of Washington. Then after many years as a stay-at-home mom, she returned to the workforce in 1986 as a teller at Sterling Savings in Tenino, Washington. In 1987, Marge began her twenty-two years of service as the Rochester High School secretary. She loved working with the students and faculty. Following her retirement, Marge continued to work part-time at Grand Mound Elementary School. It was a fun and refreshing change of pace. She officially retired in 2019 at the age of 76.

Her hobbies included bowling, walking, gardening, canning, sewing and playing Nertz with her family, a skill she has passed down to her children and grandchildren. For many years she sewed pillow cases in festive flannels as Christmas gifts for children on the pediatric wing at St. Peter’s hospital in Olympia. Her most enjoyed pastime was watching her grandchildren play sports or perform. She also loved to support all “her kids” in the Rochester School District athletics program. Marge was a cat lover and enjoyed doting on her cat Binx.

Marge is pre-deceased by her parents and one grandchild. She is survived by her husband, Adrian; her daughters Sheri Steed (Brian) and Shannon Yakovich (Nick); her grandchildren Jessica, Katelyn (Watkins), Hunter, and Brian Steed and Cayson and Kade Yakovich; and four great-grandchildren – Psalm, Oliver, and Eden Watkins and Journey Steed.

A brief graveside service will be held at Grand Mound Cemetery on Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 10:00 am. 

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