Marie Christine Henich

Marie Christine Henich was known as Chris to many, Tina to a handful, a friend to so many, mom to her four children, grandma to her 11 grandchildren, great-grandma Chris to her two great grand daughters, and loving wife to her devoted husband of 62 years, Mike.

Born March 12, 1947, to Graham Smith and Kathleen Manton in Peterborough, England, Chris passed away peacefully on September 3, 2026, surrounded by her family.

Chris began her education in England, graduating from Peterborough County Grammar School for Girls. A lifelong lover of learning, she resumed her studies once her children were grown, earning her Bachelor of Science in Education from Western Oregon University and later her Master of Science in Education from Portland State University.

Chris and Mike met while Mike was stationed in England with the U.S. Air Force. They dated, fell in love, and married in Peterborough, England, on September 14, 1963, with Chris passing away just 11 days before their 63rd anniversary.

After many moves during Mike's career in the military, first with the Air Force and then the Army, the family settled in Albany, Oregon, in 1979 to finish raising their children. In 1999, Chris and Mike purchased their dream property in Independence, Oregon, and built their home, where Chris spent the next few years turning the grounds around their home into a beautiful garden oasis.

Chris loved a good party, with plenty of them held in the barn, the house, and throughout the property. They hosted many weddings, birthday parties, pool parties, along with Halloween, Easter, and Christmas events because she loved having family and friends around. If you danced to "Sweet Caroline" at a party, you were there for an epic one.

Chris loved to teach kids. She was an elementary teacher for many years before retiring, pouring her heart into her students at Cloverdale Elementary, Turner Elementary, and Washington Elementary schools. She loved being in the classroom, continuing to volunteer long after retirement, especially in her youngest grandson Grayson's elementary classroom.

Chris was very talented in so many ways. She loved to read and devoured books. She loved to paint, put on her overalls to get dirty in the garden making things grow, and sew everything from clothing to quilts. She also loved swimming and spending time in the pool with her friends.

Her favorite thing to do was travel, taking Chris and Mike to close to 80 different countries. On their last trip in May, they had breakfast in Paris, France, lunch in Reykjavík, Iceland, and dinner in Portland, Oregon-all on the same day.

She is survived by her husband, Mike Henich; her children: Kathleen (Ian) Ritchie, and their children Dean (Emma) Ritchie, Nicholas (Erin) Ritchie, Sydnie Ritchie, and Addison Ritchie; Angie (Jeff) Schwartz, and their children Adam Schwartz, Megan (Cameron) Moon, Branden Schwartz, Seth Schwartz, and Hannah Schwartz; Karl (Jennifer) Henich, and their children Grayson Henich and the late Riley Henich; and Michelle (Ben) Fitzgearl. She is also survived by her great-granddaughters, Sierra Ritchie and Eliana Moon; her brother, Chris (Rhona) Smith; her sister, Cheryl (Peter) Dixcey; her brothers-in-law, Ken Holmes and Steve (Marcie) Henich; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters-in-law, Carole Holmes and Larue Hansen; and her brothers-in-law, Rudy Henich and Phil Henich.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to Susan G. Komen, the Salem Swim Club, the Oregon Humane Society Salem Campus, or the Independence Oregon Library Children's Section.