Dolores May Coffman Marcum

Dolores May Coffman Marcum: Life Story/Obituary 

Born March 31, 1933 

Died October 16, 2025 

Dolores survived by her husband of 72 years Melvin Marcum, daughter Crystal Marcum Mills(Dave), son Michael Marcum(Sunny), granddaughter Cierra Mills(Skyler). 

Dolores was born on a farm near the small North Dakota town of Elgin. Her mother said in her diary that “the wind blew, and the baby was born.” She had an ordinary childhood on the farm during extremely challenging times during the depression and dust bowl. In 1941 her parents realized that the farm was not producing enough income, so they sold everything they could not carry and moved to Nyssa Oregon at the encouragement of her father’s brother who found work. In school Dolores played the Trombone and, in the summer, worked in the fields for spending money. She met Melvin when they were in fifth grade. It took until High School before they made a connection with a couple of winks during class. After graduation Dolores attended Boise City College, now known as Boise State University, while Melvin went to Willamette University on a basketball scholarship. Dolores did not like college life, so she came back to Nyssa and worked at the local bank. After an all-night bus ride, a lonely Melvin proposed to Dolores. Dolores followed Melvin as he transferred to Oregon Technical Institute in Klamath Falls. When Melvin graduated, he was drafted into the Navy. Dolores gave birth to Crystal while Melvin was at sea in 1956. After living in Albany, Oregon the Marcum’s moved to Eugene where Melvin worked for the City Engineering Department. Dolores was active in Church and was a stay-at-home Mom. When the kids were in their teens, Dolores went to work at South Eugene High School in the Food Service. One of Dolores’s hobbies was baking, including a wedding cake business. She won numerous awards at the Lane County Fair for cookies, biscuits, and breads. It was a natural transition for Dolores to be the head baker. During her years at South Eugene, she learned sign language to better serve some of the hearing-impaired students. Melvin and Dolores traveled in their retirement. Numerous cruises, one through the Caribbean and the Panama Canal, and Alaska cruises with family. Dolores enjoyed fishing for Kokanee at Odell Lake and spending the summer at Shelter Cove Resort. Dolores learned and enjoyed golfing with Doris Beebe at Fiddlers Green. She was an expert quilter and enjoyed her friends at the quilting club in Lowell. She will be remembered for her love of people and how she made everyone feel welcome and loved.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:30am on Saturday, November 1st at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 4445 Royal Avenue, Eugene, OR 97402. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Bethesda Lutheran Church.