Marleea Anne Gerfen

Sweet Girl,

It's coming up on 11 years and I still talk about you til this day. I can still see your gorgelus smile and hear your laugh. It was always better if I could make you snort lol. We didn't know each other long but we accomplished alot in the short period of time; we started a Homeless Ministry together! There's no telling how big and beautiful it could've been if you were still around. Though I miss you like crazy and think of you consistently, I know things happen for a...

Dear Sweet Girl,

I cared about you more than You'll ever know. We crossed paths for a reason and we became good friends. You brought life to any place you were and to any person would have been blessed with a chance to be in your presence, including myself. It's been almost 8 years to the day since you went away and every September has been hard ever since. It hurts just as much every year since. I love you, I miss you even more and I can't wait for the day I get to see you...

Dearest Marleea:
Although we havent known eachother very long, you are still our insperation to go forth and help the homeless. We miss you dearly and Love you with all of our hearts. My we see you when the Lord calls on us. Lots of love and respect. Mark, Jessica, Kathrine, and Arianna Thomas.

I met Marleea through the Rock Church Homeless Ministry. Marleea assigned me as an assistant leader in the ministry. She shared her dream of establishing Petra House. The vision for Petra House is a Christ centered transitional home for the homeless. I have learned so much from Marleea. She was a great friend. Marleea always made me laugh and sometimes we would laugh about absolutely nothing for 30 minutes. Her joyful laugh was contagious. She was an amazing woman of God and I know she is...

Marleea called me "Oki". I met Marleea at a hiphop aerobics class 24 Hour Fitness was offering. I saw her helmet, and then introduced myself to her being as that I'm a female rider and am always excited to meet other ladies who ride. Since then, she and I were gym buddies and we rode to the gym together on Mondays and Thursdays and to bike night or girl-talk afterwards. She was such a bright, happy, positive, BEAUTIFUL woman; both on the surface and in her heart as well. I miss her so much...

To Marleea's Family, We are so sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers. May your hearts be filled with wonderful memories you shared. May you continue to feel comfort by the love and support of family and friends.

To Marleea's Family, I would like to express my deepest sympathy. The loss of a loved one is always difficult. My heart goes out to you.

Marleea Anne Bell is the girl I knew her best as, we first met on our very first day of Marine Corps Recruit Training. Her last name was Bell and mine was Beck, making us "Bunk mates" but she became one of my best friends in recruit training and in the fleet. She was one of the only girls that I remained close with after training. We both ended up being stationed in California and in the same unit MALS-16. We saw a lot of each other. From boot camp to the fleet she was there for me whenever...

Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Merleaa, her husband Brandon and their little son Roman.
I was invited to sing at the "Church Without Walls" ministry in Balboa Park, where Merleaa gave of her time so graciously to the homeless. After I sang Christian music I'd written, Brandon would lead the group of homeless men and women congregated on the grass in a Bible lesson and prayer.
Afterward, the people in attendance would form a line to receive donated articles. Merleaa...