Marian Lucille Manka

Marian Lucille Manka born April 1, 1917 in Alameda, CA passed away on January 7th, 2012 in Trinidad at age 94. Marian was born in Alameda, CA, and when she was still quite young the family moved to Morgan Hill. Her family resided in Paradise Valley through her third year at Machado Elementary, the same one-room school house that her future husband was attending. She returned to Alameda with her family for the rest of her school years. After graduating high school she went to work for Crown Zellerbach in San Francisco, and it was during those years that she was courted and married Gus Manka on October 14, 1939. They were married for 64 years. They raised four children together at their ranch in Morgan Hill. In 1967 they sold the ranch and moved to Trinidad and bought Sylvan Harbor RV Park and Cabins. In 1981, Gus and Marian sold Sylvan Harbor and retired to Fieldbrook where they focused their energies on their flower and vegetable gardens. Marian's passions were being quite active in the Arcata United Methodist Church, the Trinidad Civic Club, the Trinidad Garden Club and she also loved singing with the Sweet Adalines for a number of years. Marian is preceded in death by her son Don Manka, daughter, Nancy Fisher, sisters, Tressie Southard and Helen Kalas and her loving husband, Gustaf. She is survived by her sons Gary Manka and wife Dena and Ray Manka and wife Sherry of Trinidad. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Don Fisher of Nevada, Deborah Bettencourt and husband Michael of Los Banos, Lindsey Thomas and husband Sean of Trinidad, Lauren Corcoran and her husband Aaron of North Carolina, Celeste Manka of Chico and Murielle Manka of Trinidad. Marian is also survived by nine great-grandchildren, Jeremy, Christopher, Matthew and Joshua Bettencourt of Los Banos, Brandon, Nicole and Michael Fisher of Kansas, Anya and Dai Thomas of Trinidad and two great-great grandchildren Isaiah and Zachariah Bettencourt of Modesto. The family has chosen not to have a service. In lieu of flowers, anyone interested in making a donation in memory of Marian might consider the Trinidad Library Fund or the Trinidad Garden Club. Please sign the guest book at www.Times-Standard.com, click obits.