Obituary for Marilyn Barrett Wuestner
Mema, as she was affectionately known, was born on March 31, 1924 in Flat River Missouri. She was the 8th of 12 children born to mother Avis, and father Thomas, who worked in the Missouri lead mines.   She is survived by: 
Son Duane and his wife Melinda, 
Daughter Elizabeth and her partner Karol, 
Daughter Emily  
One grandson Arman and his wife Michelle, 
Granddaughters Shelly, Kathryn and Laura 
Great granddaughters Ashley and Kayla Rose. 
Her beloved sister Carol and husband Jack, who are here with us today,
Sister Peggy who resides in Slidell Louisiana
Sister-in-law Olive who resides in St. Louis Missouri
Many nieces and nephews from the combined families of 16 siblings
Marilyn graduated Valedictorian from Flat River's Central High school class of 1942
She moved to St. Louis following graduation to begin her professional career 
She enjoyed a 30-year career with the federal government, first working for the War Department in St. Louis during WW2, then after raising her children, at the VA Hospital in Houston.
She was raised during the great depression, was a proud member of the greatest generation, and maintained these values throughout her entire life.
She and my Dad lived in the same house on Carew St. for 48 years.
She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's related dementia in 1996. Luckily she was able to stay in her home with my Dad until he passed away in 2010.
For the past 6 years she has received loving care from a host of caregivers:
Tessy, Mary, Christina and Grace to name a few. Her caretakers describe her as sweet and loving, with the prettiest twinkling blue eyes. They loved her dimples. 
In March of this year she enjoyed her 92nd birthday party that included ice-cream cake and party hats

These are just of few of the things that brought her great pleasure during her lifetime:
Her 57-year marriage to my Dad Charles
Her brothers and sisters, brothers in law, sisters in law, and their children
Her young years in St Louis where she and her sisters lived together, worked, and owned their own home
Attending high school reunions. The last one that she attended was her 50th in 1992
Anything that her children and grandchildren did
Welcoming guests through the back door of her house
Anything Christmas related
Family reunions and Christmas vacations in Missouri
The American flag. For as long as she could, she put her flag up every morning and took it down at dusk
Making pound cake and cranberry bread (I have her original recipes for both of these if anyone is interested)
Her kitchen window
Watermelon 
Ice Cream
Pie
Birthdays and other celebrations
Her relationship with God 
Her long-time friendship with Jerry Smith
Decorating the house for every holiday
Writing letters and greeting cards
The Arrington, Anderson, and Mullins families
Knitting (hold up stocking) I think Gracie received the final Christmas stocking before knitting became too tedious. I think most of you in the room today have one of these.
St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros baseball. She was lucky enough to see both Stan Musial and Nolan Ryan play ball
Our armed forces   She was so proud that her grandson Arman served in the United States Marine Corps, as well as many in her family during WW2. 


Our Mom lived a long and joyful life, and her life was made better by everyone that is here today, and for that we thank you all.

Your mother was a very special lady! My memories of her being so welcoming, cheerful & always optimistic about life will always stay with me. Her love for Missouri and enthusiasm to talk with anyone who knew anything or anyone from Missouri was fun to watch. She was very proud of her family! She would show off pictures in her house and explain who/where/when about each individual. Even with her fading memory she could still give so much specific and in depth information about each family member. She was a great example to me of her respect and the values she kept with her family. Your parents will be missed! I miss Charles a lot. Your dad was a very humble and selfless man. He and I had an extremely close bond. From the time I meet him until the time of his passing we spoke often. His kind tender love that he expressed to Marilyn and his devotion to assisting her as much as he could was a lesson I had learned from his example. I love your parents!! I am happy to know that they are now reunited together and at peace. Thank you for sharing them with me. I talk about them often enough that my children even know of them. 

Casey Lewis
722 East 110 North 
Heber City, Utah 84032
435-671-7741
Caseytlewis81@gmail.com

Mema,

For five years, I taught Japanese people of all ages, shapes and sizes how to speak English.

Naturally, I was asked about what it was like to grow up in Texas a lot. I consider myself to be one of those lucky people to have had a pretty awesome childhood, so I found myself telling stories about yearly camping trips, floating down the Rio Frio in a tube (and having to explain what a 'tube' even is), running wild with my dogs and riding horses. Buying misshapen sticks of ice cream from what, in retrospect, was a highly suspicious truck that drove around the neighborhood playing 'Pop! Goes the Weasel' over loudspeakers.

But I never really told any of my students about the very best part of my childhood: hanging out with my paternal grandparents, my Grandpa and Mema.

If I'm being honest, I was a pretty weird kid. I'd spend hours scootering around the empty church parking lot in front of their house, pretending that I was riding on the back of a dragon. Or I'd be romping around in their carpeted front room, pretending that I was the dragon.

But Mema never seemed to mind the weirdness. Her house was (at one point during high school, literally) my second home, and how lucky was I to live just 15 minutes away by car so that I could spend every weekend there with her?!

She taught me how to play Solitaire and would let me build sprawling structures out of cards or dominoes on her dining table. We (but mostly she--I was often distracted by fantasies about catching real-life Pokemon as a ten year-old) would watch All My Children and Murder, She Wrote religiously. She showed me pictures of her brothers and sisters, and we would write letters to our relatives in other states. She had the coolest refrigerator magnet collection and always pored diligently through newspapers and magazines, looking for interesting articles to keep in her many scrapbooks (while I often occupied myself with just the funnies). She had an incredible Christmas tree full of ornaments older than I was, not to mention the fact that she hand-knitted stockings for every member of our family! And did I mention how good her food was?

Forget Disney World--Mema's house was the happiest place on Earth! (And the safest. And the most fun. And the most relaxing. Was it any wonder why I practically lived there on weekends and during summer vacation?)

Those are just my childhood memories. As I grew up, I came to appreciate the less materialistic things.

Like I mentioned earlier, Mema accepted me for who I was, despite all the weirdness, and I never felt embarrassed to share anything with her. She made me feel like the most special little kid on the planet, but also like a person who was just a couple years away from making waves across the world. She was always proud of me when I made good grades or performed well in a speech contest.

Even as I grew up and away from her, Mema was always there and delighted as ever to see me. Our best friends have the power to transport us, even after years apart, back in time to our happiest places. To me, Mema fell into the same category: being with her always brought me back to a state of comfort and childlike delight. Not just as my grandmother, but as my first best friend.

And that is what I would like to remember today.

It's said that distance makes the heart grow fonder, but I think my heart has grown past mere 'fondness'. There is a word in Japanese which means to love to the point of festivity or celebration--this is what my heart is doing now. It's celebrating all of the delicious pound cakes we made and tasted, the hours of TV and movies we watched--every game of Connect Four and every letter we wrote. The comfiest couch in the world. The smell of home. The sound of hummed Show Tunes. The safety and love of thousands of hugs.

To the very best grandmother a kid could have, from the luckiest girl in the world.

Rest in peace, Mema. I love you.

Liz - My sincerest condolences go out to you and your family for this loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

I have such found memories of Aunt Marilyn- during a visit to Houston or when she would come to St Louis for a visit after one of her high school reunions. She was a kind, good-hearted and spunky lady. She always made you feel special. I still have the Christmas stocking that she made for me and I'll treasure it always. I'm sending love and prayers to Duane, Emily, Liz and family.

Duane, Liz and Emily.  We were so saddened to hear of your mom's passing.  I know she battled Alz for quite some time, and is now at peace.  We will remember her and the fun we always had on summer vacations in Houston with y'all.  I wish we could be there with you to say good bye, but know that we will be with you in spirit.  We love you, and will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

Duane, Liz and Family.  My deepest sympathy on the loss of your mother and grandmother.
May you find peace in knowing that she has been welcomed into the arms of our Lord.

Duane and Family,
I have very warm memories of spending time at "Meemaws" as a child, very sorry for your loss.

Liz,
We were saddened to hear of your mother's passing. She and your dad were wonderful people and an inspiration to our church congregation. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Duane, Liz, Emily and family,
Though Dave and I won't be there with you on Thursday, we are sending our thoughts and prayers along with lots of hugs.  I remember your mom before she was Mema-she was Aunt Marilyn.  We all looked forward to our summer vacations when Mom and Dad and we 3 girls would climb in the car and head to Houston.  I am sure 6 kids in the house must have tried your mom's patience many times but she always had a smile for us.  That's how I remember her.  
Love,
Linda (Wuestner) Durbin

Liz,  Our thoughts and prayers are with you at the loss of your Mother.  There is never a perfect word of support that can be given at such a time.  But, we want you to know that we remember the loving care you provided for your Mother.  God's blessings during this time.  Gerhard and Melba Koegele (Waller, Texas)

Emily and Family:

Our hearts go out to you at this difficult time. We are keeping y'all in our daily prayers. I remember what a special lady your mom was and I know how much you love her. She was always so kind and generous every time I would come with you to see your parents at their house. I still remember how your dad would drive her nuts when eating ice cream and practically scraping the finish off the bowl to get every bit of ice cream out. The pair of them were so funny together and always gave me a giggle when I would see them. If there's anything we can do for you or your family please let us know. We are so sorry for your loss.

Duane, Liz and Emily,
I am really sorry for your loss.  
Your Mother was always there for my son and me.  I particularly remember her home cooked meals we enjoyed at her home.  She will be sorely missed.

Emily, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. May God's love and your memories bring you peace.

Emily and family, 
 Your family is in our thoughts and prayers with the loss of your Mom.  
God's blessing.  
Joan and Gary Clark

OBITUARY

Marilyn B. Wuestner

March 31, 1924 – July 24, 2016

Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home

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