Elizabeth “Marie” Wilson, 86, passed away on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at Oakmont of Fresno. She died peacefully, in her sleep with family by her side. On September 8, 2022, Marie suffered a complicated right arm fracture and was unable to overcome the devastating injury.
Marie was born to the Reverend James Lee and Pearlie Emily (Fulk) Carter on August 10, 1936 in Draper, North Carolina. Although she described herself as being “skinny and sickly” as a child, she outlived her eight siblings. As the daughter of a missionary, Marie had a migratory childhood traveling often between West Virginia and Arizona, where her father established churches on Native American reservations. She developed very close relationships with her two older sisters, Edith (Davis) and Louise (Loveless), and her two younger brothers Leonard and Duane. She was particularly close to Edith and Duane.
Marie met Wallace “Wally” Ray Wilson (1932-2009) in Phoenix, Arizona after he beeped at her from his brand new 1953 Chevy while cruising the main drag. They married after eight dates in December 1953 in Wickenburg, Arizona, Marie was just 17 years old. In 1959, Wally and Marie and their two daughters, Debbie born in September 1954 and Marla born in April 1957 moved to Park Forest, Illinois. Denise was born in Illinois in January 1962 during a snowstorm. Marie liked to tell the story of following a snow plow down the highway to the hospital where Denise was born. They lived in the Chicago area for three and a half years. Marie was a young full-time mother who provided her children with security, love, and many happy childhood memories in Park Forest.
In 1964, the young family fled the cold winters of Chicago and settled in Woodland Hills, California, where they purchased their first home on Friar Street. This became the family home for 50 years, the site of most family birthday gatherings, Halloween parties, a wedding reception and of course every Thanksgiving and Christmas. Marie enjoyed entertaining, telling jokes and listening to music!
Though she didn’t talk about it much, one of Marie’s proudest moments was graduating high school in June 1966. Her graduating class was recognized as one of the 1st Continuing Adult Education classes to graduate high school by California Governor Ronald Reagan during a commencement celebration at the Hollywood Bowl. Marie continued to show her commitment to education by supporting and encouraging each of her children and grandchildren to pursue their interests and she delighted in each of their educational accomplishments.
In 1968, as her daughters got older and less dependent, Marie wanted to provide some of the “extras” she felt she missed out on as a child and went to work in the booming aerospace industry. Since “two-income families” were not the norm until the mid-1970’s, she was a little ahead her time. Her advancement to the level of Inspection Supervisor, in the male-dominated, engineering environment was impressive and inspirational. She took great pride in her contributions to this country’s missile guidance systems and was indeed able to provide the family with many extras. The first, among too many to count, was a color TV.
Marie’s dedication to work paled in comparison to her devotion to family. She was never happier than when surrounded by her six grandchildren, you could see the gleam in her eyes when any one of them were around. She was grateful for having them in her life and left behind many photographic memories.
In 1991, Marie joined Wally in retirement. They stayed busy traveling between their home on Friar Street and cabin in North Fork, California. Camping and boating at Bass Lake with grandkids in tow, was a summertime must. In addition to traveling to visit family, Marie and Wally found great joy in their rose garden and loved watching for wildlife, most especially hummingbirds and deer. When not with family, Marie spent her time loving her puppies, gathering family histories, and making photo albums.
Marie remained at her Friar Street home until 2012 when she moved to Fresno, California to be closer to her daughters. In 2014 Marie and Debbie purchased a home together in Fresno where Marie lived until she relocated to an assisted living center in 2018. She was physically very healthy and remained active until her accident. Her descent into the depths of Alzheimer's disease was slow and she was aware of her family and her surroundings until shortly before her death.
Marie will be remembered as a loving and caring person with a special spot in her heart for babies and dogs. She was always a supportive, involved, and concerned wife, mother, grandmother and aunt. Marie loved to have fun and was always ready with a joke to tell. She will be missed by all who were close to her.
She is preceded in death by her parents, eight siblings, husband Wallace R. Wilson, son-in-law Kelly W. Menton, and grandson Kert W. Menton.
She is survived by her three daughters; Debra L. Menton, Marla K. Pattison (m. Richard M. Lopez), and Denise G. Plato (m. Michael Plato); five grandchildren, Donald W. Pattison, Jonathan M. Plato, Katie D. Menton, Nichole M. Plato, and Hunter M. Pattison; two great-grandchildren, Jackson L. Plato and Charlotte R. Plato; and sister-in-law, Judith K. (Wilson) Beaulieu; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
A funeral service for Elizabeth "Marie" Wilson will be held Friday, October 14, 2022 at 12:00 PM at Gates, Kingsley & Gates Praiswater Mortuary, 6909 Canoga Ave, Canoga Park, CA 91303. Following the funeral service will be an interment at Oakwood Memorial Park, 22601 Lassen Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gateskingsleygates.com for the Wilson family.
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