Obituary of Marriah Buhman

Marriah Buhman, daughter of Deborah Hotchkiss, Portland, and Jay Buhman, Vancouver, returned to our Lord and Savior November 22, 2011, in a tragic house fire in Washougal, WA. Marriah was born April 17, 1983 in Vancouver, WA and lived most of her life in the area. She is now resting in peace with her beloved son Gideon Jay Buhman, who returned to our Lord Oct 7, 2009. During the two years of her son's short life she devoted herself to his care and helped him through many difficult medical procedures. Together, they made many friends at Legacy Emmanuel Children's Hospital and through the Northwest Down Syndrome Association, for whom Marriah was eternally grateful. Marriah was a very caring, warm-hearted, genuine soul who enjoyed helping others. She had an infectious smile, witty sense of humor, and a larger than life personality. Marriah was a senior at Washington State University and majored in environmental biology. She was excited about studying various aspects of biology, and had a strong interest in protecting the wolves. Prior to attending WSU, she excelled in her studies at Clark College where she obtained her Associates degree. She was passionate about nature, and improving and protecting the quality of our environment. Marriah loved the outdoors, and found pleasure in gardening, fishing, hiking, and camping. She enjoyed expressing herself through detailed ceramic masterpieces, amazing charcoal and pencil drawings, as well as beautiful paintings, some relating to her and her son's Native American heritage. Her creative talents were recognized by Clark College when they displayed and published some of her artwork. She continued to expand her artistic talent as a tattoo artist and created original tattoos for friends and family. Marriah also taught herself to play the guitar and composed and sang touching songs. Marriah had a large extended family, including those who mothered and loved her, Teresa Buhman and Cherri Hamilton. She is also survived by siblings, Michelle Buhman, Zachary Gould, and Jayden Berry; step-brothers, Jesse Hamilton and Travis Hamilton; aunts and uncles, Julie Siracusa, Jennie Johnson, Melissa Apaza, Jason Hotchkiss, Leah Koitzsch, Marlene Koitzsch, and J R Buhman; grandparents, Manford Hotchkiss, Mary Ryan-Hotchkiss, Diane Sloan, and Sharon Koitzsch; and many cousins and friends. Because education was so important to Marriah, the family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made in memory of Marriah Buhman at www.ClarkCollegeFoundation.edu online or by mail. There will be a celebration of Marriah's life on Thursday, December 1st at 2:00 pm at Brown's Funeral Home: 410 NE Garfield St. Camas, WA 98607. Brown's Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Camas has been entrusted with arrangements.