Marietta Matlack Marietta Irene Dygard was born on September 18, 1919 in Iola, Kansas. She was the only child of Ruth and Andrew Dygard. Her father was a florist and plant breeder which inspired her lifelong love of flowers and gardening. She grew up in Waterloo, Nebraska surrounded by her mother's family. Marietta went to Midland College for 2 years where she studied music and business. Because she was only 16 years old when she started college, the other students good naturedly referred to her as the baby brain. She used her musical skills throughout her life as a piano accompanist, church organist, and member of her church choir. She and her daughter shared her love of piano and played duets together up until the last year of her life. Her first job out of college was as an executive secretary at the Mutual of Omaha insurance company. It was there in Omaha, shortly after WWII, that she went on a blind date with a young man named Jim Matlack. They were married on September 28, 1946 and ended up celebrating 64 years of marriage in 2010. They had 3 children; Lynne, Hugh, and John. Because her husband travelled with his work, she was frequently on her own Monday to Friday taking care of three kids all within four years in age. Marietta was the original soccer mom. Her duties didn't just involve driving a station wagon packed full of kids, but also she was always the mom who volunteered to help or be in charge even if it meant running a swimming meet when she didn't even know how to swim. She eventually began work as a preschool teacher which allowed her to continue to be home after school and on holidays. Jim and Marietta provided a loving household where their children were gently encouraged to be kind and respectful, and taught that hard work would bring success. They were role models when it was time for their children to start their own families and were rewarded with 6 grandchildren: Chris, Marybeth, Ellyn, and Jack Matlack, and Mark and Julia Hempe. As retirees, Jim and Marietta realized their dreams of travelling, enjoyed their season tickets to sporting events, and just generally had a great time. They both also continued their volunteer work by amassing thousands of hours in service to the Cox South Hospital in Springfield, MO. More recently, after the death of her husband, Marietta lived in New Orleans with her daughter and later in the Poydras Home for the last three years of her life.