MARYSVILLE — Two Washington-born patients of the Providence Physician Group’s Marysville Clinic recently celebrated their centennial birthdays, but one of them snuck in an extra birthday party on the side.
Providence’s Marysville Clinic threw a combined birthday party on Feb. 22 for Floris Krag, who was born on Feb. 23 in Bayview, and Marion Thompson, who was born March 6 in Yakima. Both centenarians now live in Marysville and have been Providence patients for years. Krag has lived in the area for at least 80 years, while Thompson has lived in the area since 1968.
Thompson fondly recalled all the parades she attended in Marysville with her husband and children over the course of the years, since all of her family members have participated in local parades at one point or another. One of the reasons she still loves living in Marysville is the strawberries.
Thompson and Krag were presented with flowers, cards and cake by their care providers at Providence, who described both women as being in good health. Krag was surprised to see her daughter and granddaughter at the party, since she’d been told that she was showing up for a doctor’s appointment instead.
Krag was treated to a second birthday party two weeks later at the Golden Corral by both her family and her former employers.
“She was one of our first employees,” said Marja Oosterwyk, owner of Oosterwyk’s Dutch Bakery on Third Street, at Krag’s second birthday party on March 9. “She worked for us for 19 years, only we never saw her because she was always in back.”
Krag worked for Marja’s father, Gerard Oosterwyk, as a donut fryer back when the business was called Marysville Home Bakery.
“Nobody could fry a donut as well as her,” Marja Oosterwyk said.
“She made thousands of dozens for us,” Gerard Oosterwyk said. “She was very faithful, always there on time.”
Krag’s daughter, Judy Morton, recalled her mother coming home from work every day smelling like donuts, while her granddaughter, Linda Morton, teased her for being “ornery.”
“I try to behave myself,” Krag laughed.
