Marianne Johnson Finlay, 92
Marianne Johnson Finlay, 92, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, in Sandpoint, Idaho, 17 days before her 93rd birthday with her three children by her side.
A celebration of Marianne's life will be held in Sandpoint sometime in the summer of 2009 and will be announced.
Marianne was born on Dec. 27, 1915, in Lincoln, Neb., to Henry Theodore and Edna (Miller) Johnson.
She spent her early youth in Omaha, Neb. In 1932, after numerous moves seeking help for her tubercular father, the family settled in Redlands, Calif.
After graduating from Redlands High School in 1933, she attended Scripps College, where she studied the humanities and served as president of her graduating class in 1937.
She served on the board of trustees at Scripps College in the 1960s.
Marianne quickly put her talents to good use as national chairman of young voters for Pro America, a political organization whose purpose was to interest and inform young woman about current issues. She continued her civic involvement during the war as chairman of the San Bernardino unit of the Committee for the Army and Navy. In 1945 she was one of the founders of "Footlighters", Redlands' little theater group. During the mid-'50s she was on the board of the Redlands Day Nursery and served as president in 1957 and 1958.
In 1978 she became volunteer art curator for Redlands Community Hospital. Over a period of 20 years she amassed a collection of more than 600 paintings to bring warmth and comfort to that otherwise sterile clinical environment. This, after her family, was her proudest achievement. For her contribution to the arts she was a 2007 Town and Gown honoree at the University of Redlands.
In 1940 she married Madison Finlay and celebrated 67 years of happiness with him until his death in 2007. The Finlays were avid golfers and were part of a small group that saved the Redlands Country Club from dissolution after World War II.
Marianne won many tournaments and continued playing golf into her 90s. They played at Hidden Lakes, The Spokane Country Club and Marianne was an honorary life time member of the local Elks course. Since 1961 the Finlays have spent summers here on Lake Pend Oreille.
Marianne founded the art program at Bonner General Hospital in 2000 and remained active in that endeavor until her death.
After a hospital stay in October she donated a painting she purchased from local artist Lori Moore in honor of the BGH nurses who gave her exemplary care.
She is survived by her children, Joann Craig of Portland, Ore., Hank Finlay ofWorcester, Mass., and Maria (Larry) Larson of Sandpoint; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Madison; and a sister, Barbara Johnson.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Bonner General Hospital Art Program, 520 N. Third, Sandpoint, ID 83864 or Scripps College Annual Fund for Scholarship Aid, 1030 Columbia Ave., Claremont, CA, 91711.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Marianne's online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her guest book.