Marlene Bravo Crow passed away peacefully in her home in Manteca, CA surrounded by her loving family. Born July 20, 1937 in Stockton, CA to parents Frank Perez Bravo and Virginia Mary Ortega.      

   Raised with two brothers and a sister, Marlene graduated from Edison High School in Stockton and spent the rest of her life in the area. During the days preceding her death, many of the people she knew throughout her life made a

visit to whisper goodbye and thank Marlene for all she had done through the years. Friends, family, even her caregivers made their last visit. Marlene loved to sew with her serger and  embroidery machine and decorate with tri-chem paint

liquid embroidery. She would sew clothes for her four children. Her oldest daughter, Francine,

remembers at one time, she and her two sisters Linda and Genie were dressed alike in matching dresses, and the youngest sibling, Don, had a matching shirt.

   Marlene was always good to the friends her children would bring home. She was thought of as the 'cool' mom, always on the go, always working hard, and always so good to the kids that came

through the house.  Marlene also loved helping others. Many people shared with the family how Marlene helped

them with forms for immigration, or processes that were difficult for some people to understand.

Marlene was always there to help where she could.

A strong-willed, determined person, Marlene proved to be independent right up to the end of her life. Her wish was to pass at home, and she made that happen. She retired as a Traffic Controller at Santa Fe Railroad, Stockton, CA but always had some kind of work going, even as a licensed life insurance agent in her late years.

   Marlene is preceded in death by both her parents and two brothers, Norman Bravo and Gilbert Bravo, Jr.

   Marlene is survived by sister Lydia Floyd, New Orleans, LA, long time companion John Thompson, Castro Valley, CA, her four children, Francine Garcia (Al), Crescent City, CA, Linda Smith, Stockton, CA, Virginia Willis, Reno, NV, Don Crow, Summersville, SC; grandchildren

Cherie Cervantez, Daniel Willis, Christina Cervantes and Donald Crow, and 11 great-grandchildren.      

   Marlene’s final resting place is with the Lord Jesus Christ. A celebration of life will be held at Chez Shari, 305 N. Union Rd., Manteca on Friday, July 14,

2023 from noon to 3:30.

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin

Saturday, June 10, 2023