Marian Jeanette Mead was born on June 8, 1925 in Turlock, California, and died April 17, 2023, at the age of 97, in Fresno, California. Her parents were Homer A. and Alice C. (Kraft) Mead; she was an only child.
Marian married Donald R. Jorgensen (January 20, 1946) in Turlock, California. They had three daughters, Janette Yvonne, Gail Donna (deceased as a baby), and Sandra Gay. All daughters were born in Turlock, California. The family moved to South Lake Tahoe, California in 1958. After the death of her first husband, she married William McNelly (April 25, 1981), living in Modesto, California; and Guy Chaney (March 17, 2013), living in Coarsegold, California.
Marian was very talented. She sang in the high school choir, and for fun, played the ukulele, which she taught herself to play. She was an excellent homemaker and good cook. She also enjoyed painting, reading, knitting, crochet, arranging flowers and taking classes. She loved bird watching, and owned many dogs, which she adored.
Marian is preceded in death by husbands’ Donald Jorgensen (1967) and William McNelly (2004); and son-in-law Gary Anderson (2022). She is survived by husband Guy Chaney; daughters Janette Anderson and Sandra Huerta (Hector); four grandchildren Sara Noonan (Sean), Seth Anderson (Anna), Adam Huerta (Heather), and Stephen Huerta (Jennifer). Along with seven great grandchildren, Kenneth and Peter Anderson; Aaron and Evan Huerta; Peter, Elena and Clara Huerta.
A Memorial Graveside Service for Marian will be held on Friday, June 2, 2023 at 10:00 am at Fresno Memorial Gardens, located at 175 S. Cornelia Ave., Fresno, California 93706.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitehurstsullivan.com for the McNelly-Chaney family.
