Marion Sutton McFarlen

Marion Sutton McFarlen passed away after a year long battle with cancer Friday, Sept. 10, 2010. She was born in May 1926 in Ilo Ilo, Philippines, to Walter H. Schoening and Agnes M. Schoening. Marion was raised in the Philippines until her teenage years when World War II began. Her parents, knowing the Japanese were about to invade, sent her to live at the Convent of Notre Dame in California, where she met and married William J Sutton. Together, with two children from a previous marriage, they began a life in the U.S. Air Force. They had two more children and were stationed in Germany, the Philippines and Washington. At this time, Marion worked as a short order cook and sold Avon. After retiring from the military, they settled in Visalia, Calif. She first worked at Percy''s Answering Service and then as a switch board operator for 19 years at Visalia Unified School District. After Bill passed in 1980, Marion went back to school and became an interpreter for the deaf. She was a 50-year member of Lucerne Chapter No. 13 order of the Eastern Star, past mother advisor of Vis No55 order of the Rainbow for Girls and was a volunteer for Kaweah Hospital Guild. She was one of the first female Elks and was a member of Visalia Elks Lodge No. 1298. She was an avid crafter, loved traveling in her motor home and spending time with her Escapee friends everywhere. Marion leaves behind her family, husband, Ken McFarlen; children Russ (Michelle) Sutton, Sandy (Wayne) Smith, Barbara Sutton and Jeffrey Sutton; stepson, Michael (Debbie) Mcfarlen; and grandchildren Mitzi, Brenna, Brandon, Sarabeth, Daniel, Juliana and Rebecca. A celebration of life will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010, at the Visalia Elks Lodge, 3100 W. Main St. in Visalia. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, 2010, at the Visalia Cemetery, W. Goshen Ave and N. Giddings Ave. in Visalia. Please RSVP to (559) 734-0117 for the celebration of life. Our lives won''t be quite as bright without her here.