Marsha H Ogilvie

Marsha Ogilvie, 64, passed away peacefully on January 8th after a hard fought battle with cancer. A celebration of her life will take place on Friday, January 17th from 2 pm to 5 pm at the Sandpoint Events Center. The Sandpoint Police Department and Sandpoint Fire Department Honor Guards will pay tribute to Marsha. She died while just beginning her third year of a four-year term as the city’s mayor. Marsha was born at March Air Force Base in Riverside, CA on May 25th, 1949 to Charles and Marilyn McCowan. Marsha grew up in San Bernardino, CA and later lived in Newport Beach and Santa Ana, CA. While in California, Marsha worked her way up to restaurant management and subsequently became Vice President of Operations for a retail boutique chain. It was in Santa Ana where she met Francis, the love of her life. She and Francis were brought together by a mutual friend and, sight unseen, decided to become roommates over the phone. They became very best friends before eventually marrying in 1985. Their annual vacations were spent in search of a small community to call home. In 1994 Sandpoint was blessed that it was here where they settled. It did not take Marsha long to integrate herself into the Sandpoint community and to make an impact on those whom she met. She and Francis owned two different stores downtown, The Candy Cottage and All Smiles. Marsha loved to share stories of the young children who would frequently stop by the stores, and she was overjoyed with the time they would spend visiting with her. Marsha was an integral part of many organizations and events in Sandpoint. Her passion for helping others and her love of children were the driving forces behind the founding of Kinderhaven, North Idaho’s only privately funded group home and emergency shelter for abused and neglected children. Marsha was an advocate for those most vulnerable in our society, and her vision and tenacity helped save over a thousand children from lives of abuse and neglect. Marsha was also the founder of Women Honoring Women, a local organization whose continuing mission is to recognize women in our community who have contributed to the betterment of the Sandpoint through volunteerism, leadership, the arts and education. WOW is an organization of which Marsha was extremely proud. Once Marsha was confident that she had strong capable individuals ready to take over the reins of the various organizations she started, she felt comfortable moving on to new challenges. After a short-lived retirement, Marsha decided to turn her energy toward running for public office. In 2009 she was elected to the Sandpoint City Council, and in 2011 she was elected Mayor of the city that she loved with all her heart. Her administrative style was effective and well received, and she was anxiously awaiting a return to her duties after her illness. In late 2013 Marsha achieved another of her dreams when she co-authored a children’s book, Gigi’s Enchanted Forest, inspired in part by the late Hazel Hall. Marsha was a woman of high integrity, incredible energy and a deep desire to help others. The blessings she brought to the lives of those she touched will live on. She is survived by her husband, Francis, her sister Susan Bowman, her half brother Chris Hansen, and countless friends who were blessed by the joy she brought to their lives. Family and friends are invited to sign Marsha’s online guestbook at www.coffeltfuneral.com. Memorial contributions may be made in Marsha’s name to Kinderhaven, P.O. Box 2097, Sandpoint, ID 83864.