Marie Margaret Meyer

Marie Margaret Meyer passed away peacefully on October 25, 2016, at the age of 93 at Carlmont Gardens Nursing Home in Belmont, California. Marie was born May 13, 1923 in St. Louis, Missouri to Nellie and Joseph Faupel. Marie had two older half brothers, Francis "Babe" and Edward Graham, and three younger brothers, twins Arthur and Raymond and Oliver Faupel. After graduating from Fair View High School in 1941, Marie was employed by the St. Louis Medical Depot where she specialized in duplicating and reproducing technical manuals and spare parts publications in support of the forces overseas. In 1942 she became engaged to Fred Lee Miller, an aerial gunner and Technical Sergeant in the US Army. They married in April 1944 and lived briefly in Los Angeles, Greenville, South Carolina, and Newport News, Virginia. During WWII Marie worked on the Greenville Army Airbase in South Carolina and Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Their marriage was short-lived due to Fred's return from a tour of duty with issues related to prolonged and constant bombardment. In 1946, Marie married Walter Junior Meyer, a smart, eager private in the US Army, also from St. Louis, and they initially settled in Overland, Missouri. In 1947, Walt and Marie welcomed daughter Diane and their second daughter, Donna was born in 1952. Walt's many promotions meant frequent moves for the family and during the 1950's they lived in various states including West Virginia, Illinois, and Virginia. They also spent five years stationed in Hokkaido Japan where Marie learned to speak basic Japanese. Wherever they lived, Marie was the linchpin who held her family together. Marie was an involved and encouraging mother and spent the 1960's taking Diane and Donna to baton practice, Girl Scouts, ballet and dance lessons, auditions, theater performances, and roller skating competitions. Walt's final promotion to Command Sergeant Major, 115th Intelligence Group in 1960 meant leaving the Mid-West for California as he was posted to the Presidio of San Francisco where they lived on base until Walt's retirement from active duty in November 1966. Returning to civilian life, Walt and Marie moved to Daly City. Marie, ever with the fastidious eye for detail, took a position with Allen's Press Clipping Bureau in San Francisco while Walt managed the Seavue Theater in Pacifica. The purchased a camper and a weekend retreat in Guerneville in the 1970's and spent many long weekends and happy summers vacationing near Russian River and in Disneyland with their grandchildren. Walt and Marie were married for 30 years until his death from cancer in 1976. Shortly after, Marie began filling her days by volunteering at Marjory H Tobias (formerly Vista Mar) Elementary School in Daly City, eventually becoming one of the first paid teachers' aids in Jefferson Elementary School District. She enjoyed 28 years assisting teachers and instructing students at Margaret Pauline Brown Elementary. Over the years she taught various grades (Kindergarten was her favorite) and a wide range of subjects including math, art and reading. Marie eventually downsized from the house in Daly City to an apartment in Burlingame which kept her close to her family. She retired in 2005 but continued to keep busy helping her granddaughter and great-grandchildren with homework, or reading, doing crossword puzzles and tending to her African violets, spider plants and Christmas cactus. In 2011 Marie moved to Carlmont Gardens Nursing Home where she enjoyed arts & crafts, bingo, singing, family visits, Pretty Me Beauty time, holiday celebrations and many other social activities. Besides being their star singer for karaoke singer, Marie also became a trend setter with her colorful headbands which always matched her outfit. In her final years, Marie often reflected how it felt to have outlived all of her siblings, parents and childhood friends. Marie is survived by her daughters Diane Christine Thomas and Donna Marie Meyer, two granddaughters, grandsons Mark Rutherford and Gary Whitesides, great grandson Andrew Stoller and great granddaughters Lauren Stoller and Jamie Rutherford. She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers and grandson, Eric Watt. A memorial service will be held at 10:00am on Friday, November 4, 2016 at Our Lady of Angels Church 1721 Hillside Dr., Burlingame and interment at San Francisco National Cemetery on the Presidio.