Marlene Laviage Tanner

Marlene was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital to Charlie and Evelyn Laviage. Her early life was filled with family outings with her parents, brother and grandmother. They loved baseball games, Miller Theater, trips to Galveston and did everything together as a family. She graduated from Bellaire High School and attended the Univ. of Houston. Marlene married and had two beautiful daughters, Marka and Lisa, and worked as a secretary to Rabbi Segal of Congregation Beth Yeshurun.

In 1978, on a gut feeling, Marlene and her friend Linda jumped headfirst and opened a small wholesale art and framing business, naming it Unique Art in a 1000 square foot space. Three years later it became Unique Arts of Houston, Inc. and Marlene grew that small business into a thriving corporation that today has over 20,000 square feet, a team of 20 employees, and a multitude of customers. The business continued to grow not only because of Marlene’s acumen but mainly due to her understanding of her customers needs. Almost all her customers became personal friends because of the beautiful smile she always offered, her sense of humor, and the fact that she actually cared about them, their families, and what was going on in their lives. After college Lisa joined the firm and became Marlene’s right arm. She taught her the business and they had the joy of working together every day. Marka moved to Pennsylvania and became an expert in the flooring business and Marlene was very proud of her accomplishments as well.

Marlene’s big heart extended further than family and customers. She sat on the Board of Directors of the Texas Gulf Coast Cystic Fibrosis Foundation from 2004-2013, chaired the foundation’s Mothers’ Day High Tea in 2008 and 2010, and the Celebrity Waiters event in 2001 and 2002. She served on the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art Committee and supported the Rodeo Cookoff, was a long time supporter of many charities including St. Jude's Children’s Hospital, and often helped the homeless with her time, gift cards and food deliveries.

Over 20 years ago Marlene met Chuck, who swept her off of her feet and they married. Chuck taught Marlene the joy of travel and actually relaxing. They travelled extensively over the years on cruises all around the world, often with Charlie and Evelyn, extended family and friends. This is where Marlene’s personality always kicked in and they made many new friends on each cruise.

Saturdays shopping and spending time with her mother were a regular occurrence, as were Sunday dinners with family and friends at her house. Marlene loved to cook, and she kept the family together by preserving annual holiday traditions.

Marlene spent time with her nephew Steven, taking him shopping and on ski trips. They shared a love of cooking and jigsaw puzzles, and she was always an important part of his life.

Marlene’s grandchildren Emme and Stone were the highlight of her life. She adored them and they loved their “Mimi”. They visited Disneyworld, and were always together shopping and having lunch, or simply spending relaxing time together. She made sure they each had individual time with her so she could give them her undivided attention and love. She never missed Stone’s baseball games, attended every play Emme was in, and loved watching them both in their circus performances. She always had time for their school events, holidays, and summer camp. Her wish was granted when she was able to be a part of their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs.

Three and a half years ago Marlene was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer and given four months to live. She was determined that cancer would not define her and continued to live life to the fullest, never slowing down. Thanks to her amazing doctor Ben Musher and her ability to just live in the joy of her life and to fight it with every means at her disposal, we were blessed to have had her much longer. Her loving husband Chuck was always by her side supporting her every need.

Marlene is survived by her mother, Evelyn Laviage, husband Clarence “Chuck” Tanner, daughters Lisa Hoover and Marka Shapiro, brother and sister-in-law Ronnie and Susan Laviage, grandchildren Emme Hoover and Stone Hoover, nephew Steven Laviage, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Patricia and Art Rimback, Ramona and Richard Lynch, and Trudy Marsh, and friend Linda Berg Todar. The family thanks their housekeeper Paula and all of the loving nurses that cared for her.

Memorial donations may be made to the Marlene Laviage Tanner Memorial Foundation benefiting pancreatic cancer research at Baylor College of Medicine, directed by her oncologist Dr. Ben Musher. www.bcm.edu/giving/mtanner

A graveside service for Marlene will be held Sunday, February 13, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Beth Yeshurun Cemetery, 7445 Awty School Ln., Houston, TX 77055.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below for the Tanner family.