Mary Faye Speight Routen

Mary Faye Speight Routen, known to everyone as Faye, passed away on December 26, 2010 in Santa Maria, CA at age 89. She had been a resident of Marina, CA from 1963 to 2005. Before relocating to Santa Maria, due to illness, she had been very active on the Monterey Peninsula. Some activities included, working the polls for many elections, taking quilting classes, and tending her flower gardens. She was a member and former president of the Marina Garden Club, and grew gladiolas which won first place at the Monterey County Fair many times. She was well known for her baking, especially her chocolate chip cookies. Faye was born on Aug.17, 1921 in Dadeville, MO to Oral and Lora Speight, but moved to Visalia, CA at the age of five. After high school she went on to graduate from Visalia Junior College in 1940. She married in 1942 to Eugene Victor Routen. After becoming a military wife, she and her family moved frequently, living in six different states before settling in Marina, CA. Faye is survived by her five children: Marilyn Mitri (Elias), Joyce McGhie (Robert), Philip Routen (Barbara), Betty Gordon (Mike), and Michael Routen (Jennifer), and her four siblings: Irene Swatzke, J.C. Speight (Rosie), Ivergene Petty, Clifton Speight (Marie). In addition, Faye had seventeen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. There will be a Memorial Service in her hometown of Visalia, CA at the Visalia First Assembly of God Church on January 7, 2011 at 11 am. Arrangements are under the direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory and Memory Gardens.