Marsha Bern Chowning

Marsha Bern (Argyr, McNeil, Van Cleef) Chowning, 89, of Sequim, WA passed away on June 4, 2026 in Port Angeles, WA. She was a long time Port Orchard resident.

Marsha was preceded in death by her parents, former husband Glen Van Cleef, husband Edwin, brother Bruce McNeil, stepson Daniel Chowning, and stepson Bryan Chowning. She is survived by her brother Jim McNeil (Kristi), son Jim Van Cleef (Patsy) of Port Orchard, daughter Mary Howisey (Jim) of Everett, step-son Eldon Chowning of Wenatchee, and step-daughter Sylvia Collis of Port Orchard, 17 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

Born in April 1937 in Denver, Colorado to Dr. Nicolas Argyr and Nora Agnes (Rice) Argyr, her father passed away from pneumonia in October 1936, prior to her birth. Her mother, Agnes, was a nurse and single parent until September of 1942, marrying Rev. Walter W. McNeil, the Episcopalian Vicar in Jackson, Wyoming. Walter adopted Marsha, and he and Agnes added two sons to the family, James W. (1943), and Bruce C. (1949). Eventually the McNeil family settled in Seattle where she graduated from Roosevelt HS in 1955.

As a freshman at Washington State College, Marsha met Glen Van Cleef. They married in September 1956 and settled in the Spokane area. Son Jim arrived in 1957 and daughter Mary in 1964. A position for Glen at the Naval Hospital in Bremerton led the family to settle in Port Orchard in 1969.

Marsha married Edwin Chowning in 1975, (who passed away in 2006) and remained in Port Orchard until 2017 when she moved to Sequim. She enjoyed 10 busy and joyful years in Sequim with her life and travel partner Sheldon McGuire.

Marsha's hobbies and interests were varied. She loved to act and sing. She was cast in school plays, sang in church choirs, and was a member of the group "Sweet Adelines" in Port Orchard. The spotlight seemed to be her happy place. As a young girl in Wyoming, she took up snow skiing. In Washington, she became a member of the Ski Patrol at Snoqualmie Summit. She was an accomplished seamstress, making clothes for herself and family. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and spent many years supporting Job's Daughters Bethel #61. She enjoyed gardening, growing her favorite roses and maintaining a large kitchen garden. Later in life, she took up working with stained glass and became quite accomplished with a variety of projects. From artistic stepping stone castings to pictorial designs, many of her creations are cherished by friends and family.

She held many different jobs in her lifetime. Driven to be successful in everything, it seemed there was nothing she couldn't do well. She was a Pacific NW Bell telephone operator, an Airline Reservation operator, an "Avon Lady,” Secretary, Retail Clerk, Clerk/Typist, Marine Electrician Helper, Shipfitter (completing the Apprentice Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in 1980), and Instructor. While working at the shipyard, she returned to college to pursue a degree in Occupational Education. Graduating from Southern Illinois University with honors in 1984, she achieved that goal and put it to use as an instructor at the shipyard. After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, she retired in 1995 after a 20+ year career at PSNS, but remained active at church, as a volunteer at the Sydney Art Gallery and Museum, with hobbies, and traveling.

After retirement, she traveled the country and the world extensively. She took trips to Texas, California, Hawaii, Alaska, and the East Coast of the US. Internationally, she visited China (twice), New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, Panama, Turkey, and took many cruises as well to locations in the Caribbean, Europe, and Patagonia.

Following in her mother's footsteps, Marsha was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, serving in Chapter JA in Port Orchard. She found great satisfaction and purpose in the mission of P.E.O. to motivate, educate, and celebrate women.

Memorials may be directed to the P.E.O. Sisterhood at https://www.peointernational.org/make-a-gift/ or to Cottey College at https://cottey.edu/give/