Marba Elizabeth LaBarrer, 87

Marba Elizabeth LaBarrer, of Arlee, passed away peacefully at her home Feb. 8, 2024, at the age of 87, following a recent cancer diagnosis. Marba was able to visit with her youngest son, Wayne, and many of her grandchildren, neighbors and old friends before her passing.

Marba was born in Cedar City, Utah, on May 18, 1936, to Lyman Woods and Isadore Woods (née Chadburn). She was the youngest of five children, who grew up on a mustang ranch in Barkley, Nev.

Marba married "Vern" Hartley in 1950 and had four children: Marilyn, Curt, Peggy and Wayne. Marba was incredibly grateful to enjoy 11 grandchildren: Jennifer Biaz, Missy Weber, Dori Breeding, Cassie Sweeney, Amy Sengchangthalangsy, William (Billy) Matt, Tamara Calhoun, Jason Knobloch, Travis Hartley and Christy (Hartley) Dorrity.

In 1974, Marba met the love of her life – Roy LaBarrer. Roy and Marba were married on May 8, 1976. After a stint as a Navy wife, Marba and Roy worked and traveled extensively through various exotic locations in Europe, Asia and Africa. Both Marba and Roy truly enjoyed exploring and spending time together during these years abroad.

Marba had an interesting and varied work history while married to Roy. She worked in Las Vegas at The Sands Casino, as a U.S. Armed Forces postal clerk in Saudi Arabia, and as a secretary at Pratt Whitney in Shenyang, China.

In 2000, Marba and Roy moved back to Arlee full time and truly took advantage of all that Western Montana has to offer. Marba loved to hunt deer, fish, attend military reunions and family reunions and garden. She was an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous for 52 years.

She made friends wherever she went, and is remembered as a woman who was easy to love and commanded great respect from the people in her life. Marba had a life lived well, and a life well lived.