Local school icon honorees announced as Marysville Parade grand marshals
The 94th Annual Marysville Strawberry Festival Parade Grand Marshals were recently announced.
The couple are familiar faces in the community and within educational circles. Congratulations to Scott Stokes, a former longtime football coach, counselor and teacher at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, and wife Nancy, a certified occupational therapist in the school district who inspired independence in young adults, fulfilling her goal to work with kids.
Look for them to lead the parade at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 20.
The couple’s initial reaction to the honor of being named grand marshals was “We’ve gotta get out of this,” said Scott, jokingly. “We’re not people who seek the limelight.”
However, when it became inevitable that they couldn’t avoid the blitz of phone calls and emails from leaders of Maryfest, Inc., the nonprofit hosts of the festival, the Stokes accepted their fate like the humble fans they are of a hometown that has given them so much.
“Grand Marshal is a wonderful honor,” said Nancy. “Marysville has been a wonderful place, the very best place to live and work.”
After graduating with a teaching degree from Western Washington University in 1980, “Coach Stokes” worked for the school district for 41 years, including 10 years as head coach of the football team. Nancy, who he dated in 1979, was also wrapping up her college degree. In a stroke of good timing, positions opened up for both in the Marysville school system, and they married.
Both stay active in the community. Scott is the “meat” guy at the Marysville Community Food Bank, volunteering twice a week and delivering to home-bound clients. He also volunteers at high school track meets, does water testing through the Snohomish County LakeWise Program, and participates in Global Ministries’ Earthkeepers.
Nancy served on the Eagle Wings Disabilities Ministries board and was a longtime member whose career training and client support have been much appreciated.
The Stokes have been active members within Marysville United Methodist Church over the past 35 years. They assist with caretaking and upkeep of the House on Prayer Interfaith’s “House of Miracles” on the church’s property, which is a single-family home available to help families overcome homelessness over a set period of months. The Stokes also help with the church’s Klos 4 Kidz program.
Among their hobbies, they are outdoor enthusiasts who love to travel Rick Steves style. They have visited New Zealand and Australia, Ireland to attend a friend’s wedding, Switzerland, England, Italy, Iceland and most recently climbed Machu Picchu in Peru. Now they are on a dream trip to Greece and hiking in the Greek Islands.
They also love to ski, hike and play pickleball. Nancy in particular is a competitive pickleball ace. She has taught others young and old to embrace the thrill of the sport of paddles.
Their fondest memories of the Strawberry Festival Grand Parade revolved around their two teenage sons, Matt and Danny, now grown, who participated in the high school marching band, and through sports teams. Nancy was an instruments-carrying band Mom. She also had students who joined the festival royalty, citing 2009 Queen Shelbe Hintze as one shining example.
