BURBANK UNIFIED VETERAN WILEY DIES.

Byline: Jennifer Hamm Staff Writer

BURBANK - Marybelle Wiley, a longtime Burbank Unified School District secretary, died after a brief battle with cancer, district officials said Monday. She was 67.

Wiley, who died Saturday, was remembered by co-workers as a true public servant.

``Parents talked about the fact that she would go the extra mile to get you help,'' said Sue Boegh, spokeswoman for the district. ``She was dramatic, upbeat and glad to help.''

Wiley was born Dec. 13, 1932, in White Hall, Md. The youngest of five children, she attended a one-room schoolhouse. After graduating from high school, she earned a degree from Baltimore Business College.

She married Earnest Stephan and had two children. After her husband died, she moved to California and married Ramsay Wiley.

``I will probably most remember her for evenings spent washing and drying the dishes while singing at the top of her lungs,'' said daughter, Beverly Park, 39, of Oregon.

Wiley worked for the school district for nearly 30 years, most recently as a secretary in instructional services at the district office.

Besides going out of her way to help everyone including parents trying to navigate their way through the school system, Wiley would regularly treat co-workers to her homemade cooking and offer to mend ripped clothes.

Wiley was also well-known for the dramatic manner in which she answered the phone, drawing out each word of her greeting like a song.

She is survived by her husband; son, Robert Stephan, and his wife, Colleen; daughter, Beverly Park, and her husband, John; and six grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are pending.