Mariel Ann Green

Mariel lived through the hardships of the Great Depression and the second World War, but thrived during her long adult life as a model, journalist, and Vice President of the largest fruit and vegetable canning company in the world. In her retirement she became a very accomplished artist. Mariel married and divorced two men in her youth. She met Bill Green in 1973 and was happily married to him until his death in 2004. Bill Green was a retired Marine officer and pilot and later a successful businessman. For many years Mariel had a close relationship to Bill’s five children and their families. Cindy (d) and Brian Draper, Suzanne and Bob (d) Mogren, Kathleen Green, Royce (d) and Claudia Guerra and her husband Leroy (d). Holidays, birthdays, and other occasions were made special by Mariel in her lovely home. Many trips to San Francisco and the towns in the Wine country, shopping, plays, and lunches in boutique cafes were enjoyed by all. In the 90’s Mariel, Cindy, and Suzanne spent time in London, Paris, and Rome having fun visiting the many museums and immersing themselves in art masterpieces with Mariel acting as docent.

Mariel had no children of her own but was very close to her niece and nephew, Susan Mariel West (later Sue Sharman) and Dr. David West and their families. Mariel helped care for Susan and David during their infancy, and visited the West family often on holidays, birthdays, picnics, and family celebrations during their childhood. Mariel and David had a special relationship while he was attending UC Davis and she worked in San Francisco. Susan and Mariel also enjoyed special times together, including a trip to France and Paris in 2012.

Mariel loved dogs and cats and always had pets, with little Bella being her last dog and kitty Millie with her until her death.

Mariel Green had a most interesting life. Elementary school in the 1930’s was in tiny farming communities of the great Sacramento Valley of California, usually with 12-15 students of all grades first to eighth and taught by her mother. As the economy improved her family moved to Sacramento where she attended 5th to 9th grades. She was in high school when Pearl Harbor was attacked. The World War II era was difficult for all including Mariel. Her best friend (a Japanese-American girl) was taken to an internment camp never to be seen again; her brother stationed in the Philippines with the Army Air Corps was captured by the Japanese and survived, despite starvation and abuse, in prison camp.

Mariel was beautiful and poised. She became the leading model for I Magnin’s in San Francisco. She met some of the stars of that age (Tony Bennett, Ida Lupino, Lauren Becall, Frank Sinatra) from her work in San Francisco and later in Lake Tahoe, NV. During her first marriage she raised Great Danes, and won awards at canine shows with these majestic animals. Mariel started a career in business and with her great personality and people skills she rose to become VP of Tri-Valley Growers at 100 California Street in San Francisco in the 1960’s. After Mariel’s marriage to Bill her artistic career next took center stage painting with oils, acrylics, pastels featuring landscapes of the wine country of California and portraits of family. She also painted silk pillows and wine bottles and opened and operated, along with her stepdaughter Kathleen, a store called Smart Cookie in Marin County, California featuring unique gifts and cards and best of all homemade cookies.

Mariel had a love affair with the idea of “Paris” throughout her adult life. Eiffel Tower wine glasses to Louvre paintings graced her walls and homes. She was related to Calmes’ cousins in France and took a delightful trip to Paris and France with her niece Susan seeing the family castle.

After living almost all of her life in Northern California, David and Norma West moved Mariel from Santa Rosa, California to Grand Junction, Colorado in 2018. She enjoyed spending time with all of her family in Colorado, with many celebrations with grand nieces and nephews and holidays and evenings at the West home. Mariel played countless hours of bridge with Sue, Don, Norma, and David; and visits from David’s former wife Judy.

Mariel had breast cancer that became widely metastatic and she received outstanding care from Dr. Work and St. Mary’s Oncology, from Hilltop Services at the Commons, from Aspen Ridge Care Services, and especially from HopeWest Hospice. HopeWest volunteers, chaplains, social workers, and nurses helped Mariel along her end-of-life journey. Mariel died July 1, 2024, age 98, in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Mariel is survived by her niece Sue Sharman, nephew David West, and many grand nieces and nephews. She is also survived by three living stepchildren, Suzanne Mogren of Kansas, Kathleen Green of California, Claudia Guerra of California and son in law Brian Draper and their families. Donations in Mariel’s name can be made to HopeWest Hospice in Grand Junction, Colorado.