Marian C. Erbele

Marian Cooper Erbele of Flowery Branch died Sunday, September 1, 2013. She was born Dec. 30, 1926 in Mandan, ND, the daughter of Olive Manson Montgomery and McLain Stephens Cooper. She grew up in Orr and attended a two-room schoolhouse. She attended nursing school at St. Michael's Hospital in Grand Forks, ND, where she became a registered nurse. Her first nursing job was at Yellowstone National Park. Marian was married to Leo Albert Erbele in 1950. She went on to become an adult nurse practitioner and earned her Master of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center in Portland, OR. She was passionate about her family and helping others, and loved travel and adventure. She was an avid cyclist into her 70s, cycling across Georgia, Tennessee, Michigan, and other states. She climbed Mt. Hood in Oregon and made a trek around Annapurna in the Himalayas of Nepal on an around-the-world trip. Marian lived life to the fullest, extracting joy and meaning from every experience. She cast love liberally, enriching the lives of everyone she touched. Marian was predeceased by her oldest son, Paul Frederick, her brother James, and her parents. She is survived by her children, John and Linda Erbele of Cleveland, Olivia and Fred Skey of Flowery Branch, Peter Erbele of Gainesville, Mary and Larry Bowman of Flowery Branch, daughters-in-love Cindy and Anne Erbele, grandchildren Jessica and Shane Donaldson, Martin Erbele, Virginia and Kacey Weaver, Samuel Bowman, Allison Erbele, and William Erbele, her sister Marjorie Lee of Salem, OR, and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, September 7 at 2:00 pm at St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, 2920 Landrum Education Drive, Oakwood GA 30566. Family will receive friends there from 12-2. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church.