Arlene S. Mattos

Arlene was born December 16, 1928 to Leslie Anthony Silva and Lela Stennett Silva, who lived on a ranch on Route 1 in Turlock, California. The ranch was located on Youngstown Road, across from Johnson Joint Grammar School in Youngstown Colony. The Silva family eventually consisted of Leo, Carol, Arlene and Wilbur (Bill). They moved from the ranch when Arlene was 6 and relocated to an almond ranch west of Riverbank, at the corner of Estelle and Stanislaus Streets.

Arlene grew up there, attending McHenry Grammar School, Modesto High School and Modesto Junior College. She worked at various office positions, including the Stanislaus County Schools Office. She moved on from there to become the private secretary to the District Attorney of Stanislaus County.

On June 18, 1950, Arlene married Mervin Mattos. Four children were born to them: Kathleen, John, Daniel and Carolyn. In 1958, the family bought a walnut/clover ranch between Empire and Waterford. Arlene "retired from work" to raise the children and help on the ranch.

Arlene was active in the growing process of her children, participating in PTA, catechism, 4-H, Guide Dogs for the Blind, transportation to all sorts of school occasions and sports events, as well as trying to keep things going on the home front. As her children progressed through school, Arlene went to work for Walter Regan, CPA. She continued to work in the accounting field until her retirement in 1988.

After retirement, Arlene turned to writing. She had written all her life, but had not taken the time to pursue it fully. Under the tutelage of Jeannette Gould Maino, Arlene grew in her writing. Her poetry received publication throughout the United States. She wrote prose and articles that were published in various magazines and newspapers. She also wrote numerous articles for the "Our Turn" column, published in the Modesto Bee.

In June, 1996, Arlene was appointed Poet Laureate of Modesto and served two terms, ending in the year 2000. In this capacity, she wrote poetry for specific occasions, spoke to groups about poetry and especially to children in schools, read poetry to anyone who would listen, and published two books of poetry.

Arlene's club affiliations included: Empire Women's Country Club, 4-H, Fifty Plus, Ina Coolbrith Poetry Circle, Little Writer's Group, National League of American Pen Women, Native Daughters of the Golden West, PTA, Scriveners, and Soroptimist International. She was a member of St. Anthony's Church in Hughson.

Services will be held on June 24, 2016, at the Lakewood Memorial Park, Riverside Chapel at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers, Arlene requested that donations be made to Guide Dogs for the Blind, 350 Los Ranchchitos Road, San Rafael, CA, 94903 (www.guidedogs.com), or to a favorite charity .