Mariana Evelyn Pruitt

Marian Evelyn "Mariana" Guido Pruitt Perez passed away peacefully at home while under care of her family and Hospice. She was born in Detroit, Michigan on September 16, 1927, She was the daughter of Ciro Biaggio Guido and Mary Calomeni of Italy who came through Ellis Island in 1912. She was the youngest sister of Dante Guido, Georgine Guido Allor, Virginia Guido Ingersoll, Eugene "Sylvio" Guido, Florence Guido Kinnee, Mildred Guido Brown, Cecilia Guido Keegan and Evelyn Guido who all have preceded her.

She came to make southern California her home with her husband, James Pruitt, in the fall of 1958. They bought their first home in Solana Beach and raised their four children: Denise Pruitt Rodriguez, Nancy Pruitt Kalber, Kevin Pruitt and Geniene Pruitt from 1962 - 1969 when her husband was the local Golden Arrow Dairy milkman and she worked at the old Steak House on Highway 101.

In 1969 she became a hardworking single mother and moved her children to Clairemont where most of her children graduated from high school and made their homes.

For the past 11 years she has lived in Hillcrest and City Heights with her loving only son, Kevin, and being spoiled with lots of love and caring from her entire family, including her loving son-in law, Jorge Rodriguez.

She worked for 27 years at the Del Mar Race Track in the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in the Turf Club and then was a server at the Turf Club Home Stretch Carving Station - serving roast beef, ham and corned beef sandwiches always with her beautiful smile, friendly attitude and even giving out a free tip or two! In 1974 she won one of the largest paying daily doubles at the time (3/7) and went on a tour of Mexico where she found her other "paradise" in Puerto Vallarta and met her love of her life, Clemente "Chicho" Perez. She had the best of living in both worlds and one of her greatest joys was to share her Mexico paradise with her family and friends who visited her there for the past 39 years. In that time, she has made life long friends in Puerto Vallarta and was fortunate to have four step sons and three step daughters and their families who grew to love their loving and generous American stepmother who took good care of and loved their father very much.

Her other greatest pride and joy was to spend time with her grandchildren: David Rodriguez, Vanessa Rodriguez, Loren Orhan Jenkins, Adam Orhan, Max Kalber, Natalie Freeman, Niky Freeman, Leo Freeman and her great grandchildren: Jermaine Freeman, Nyah Freeman, Joseph Jenkins and Anela Orhan. She truly showed her children, stepchildren, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, her extended Mexican families in Puerto Vallarta & Puebla, her "adopted" sons and daughters, her Facebook friends, and all who have met her and were blessed to know her - how to live well, laugh often and love much!

"Thank you for sharing your love, wisdom, and encouragement with us. You have been our perfect example of God's unconditional love and enjoying life to its fullest! You gave us memories too beautiful to forget and those memories will always be treasures in our hearts forever. We will miss you but know you will be our guardian angel in heaven caring for and watching over us and "loving us the most" as you did on earth."

Viewing: Monday, November 11, 2013, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m., Merkley-Mitchell Mortuary, 3655 5th Avenue, San Diego, 92103

Memorial Service: Tuesday, November 12, 2013, 1:00 p.m., Merkley-Mitchell Mortuary Chapel, 3655 5th Avenue, San Diego, 92103