Desert Messenger

February 19, 2020 www.DesertMessenger.com 3 By Jackie Deal "She's been awarded a certifi cate for being a vendor for 50 years in the Pow Wow, why don't you inter- view her?" After several conver- sations with Marilyn McFate I've concluded there's nothing-abso- lutely nothing- that's transpired in Quartzsite in the past 50 years that she hasn't been involved in. She's a tiny, little women, bent over a cane, doggedly, determinedly liv- ing life to the fullest. An accident a year ago (she tripped and tried to preserve the taco and Pepsi she was carrying) resulted in a broken femur and pulled muscles. The doctor said she would be confi ned to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Marilyn may be slowed down a bit, but she's defi nitely not in a wheelchair. And if she ever is, she probably will run the wheels off the thing. How did such a dynamo end up in Quartzsite? We can bless her husband John "Jack" for that. He had been given a death sentence by his doctors but they discovered he felt better in Quartzsite's warmer climate (they were from Montana.) He felt so much better, they decided to stay here. He lived 30 more years, "He outlived fi ve of his heart doctors," Marilyn gleefully says. Marilyn and Jack were married for 52 years. She was one of 12 children and "the man I married had 9 children." Helping others probably came naturally to her. She and her husband were rock hounds, polishing, cutting, carving and selling rocks at many venues. They exchanged rocks from their mining claim in Montana with people from all over the world. Marilyn taught rock cutting and carving at the Quartzsite Rock Club for many years. Her fi rst Pow Wow booth "was by the fence, they were still running cattle around here, and there was one out-house." Her story involves a whole lot more than just rocks. Almost any devel- opment in town over the past 50 years has Marilyn's fi ngerprints on it. She worked with the Police Department in several ways and for 14 years checked on the elderly. She still does this by phone, "because I can't drive a police car anymore." She drives herself around but no longer drives the Town's Transit bus that she drove for many years. In the 70s the town fi re fi ghting was a "bucket brigade." Marilyn and oth- ers in the QIA (Quartzsite Improvement Assoc.) worked to develop a fi re department. She said, "We had bar-b-ques and raffl es and any way we could to make money to buy a fi re truck." The fi rst fi re department was in the cur- rent Rock Club building on the QIA property. She recalls, "climbing up the mountain to put up the TV antenna with others from the QIA." She added, "Most people don't realize how much the QIA has done for the town." Her work with the Food Bank started when she and others would "glean" vegetables in the Yuma area and bring them back to share. She helped start the library when it was fi rst just a pocket book exchange. She was involved with the US Census for many years and says she's seen a lot of growth. She's served on the election board for 72 years going back to when Quartzsite was North Yuma County. She's still active in the Women's Club and said, "We need more new younger members. You know some of us are getting older." (She was born in 1930 in Iowa.) Marilyn McFate honored for 50 years vending at QIA Pow Wow She's not afraid of learning. She's studied geology, art and photogra- phy. She worked for local newspa- pers and helped in "preserving the historic images of the area." She still paints in oils and said, "Maybe I'll get out my water colors and chalks again and do something." She's "won ribbons" in the past—look out local artists, here she comes! Her stories are enough to leave one breathless. She doesn't brag, she just chats cheerfully and chuck- les now and then at what her life has held and still holds. I'm sure all of Quartzsite wishes her a con- tinued recovery from her accident and many more happy days keeping Quartzsite moving forward. Private End of Street Custom Home, 30' x 40' Workshop with Casita. Attached Extra Deep Garage, Beautiful Kitchen Cabinets, Center Island. Built-in Entertainment Center. Must See! Michelle Myers Williams 928-662-7829 Quartzsite • Parker • Bouse LAND! 6 + Acres $39,000 • 5+ Acres $15,000 1 Acre $75,000 Splittable • 4+ Commercial Acres on I-10 3 Bedroom, Corner Lot, Upgraded Kitchen & Flooring. Owner Must Sell. Bring Offers! 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Home, 30' x 40', 2 Roll Up Doors, Desert Landscaping, 4 RV Hookups $ 79,900 EASY OFF ROAD ACCESS LARGE WORKSHOP $ 225,000 NEW LISTING! $ 279,000 Custom 2 Bedroom Home Beautifully Designed, Several Architectural Niche's, 50' Long Workshop, Corner Lot. Extra 1/2 Acre Available. $ 159,000

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