Marlene Addie Moser

1932 - 2015

Marlene Addie Moser

November 18, 1932 - March 10, 2015


Marlene Addie Moser passed peacefully at home surrounded by her loving husband of 25 years, Dennis Moser, sister Gail Lenz (Ray), children Lindi Ramsey (Crouse), Debbie Laffranchini (Crouse), Karen Huff (Towne), grandson Caleb Laffranchini, and great grandchildren Aurora and Arria Laffranchini.

Born in Santa Clara, California, November 18, 1932 to Robert Lloyd and Virginia Ray, she remained a California resident her entire life.

She resided in Shasta and Trinity Counties since 1959, beginning a life in Shasta County at O'Brien and Antler's Resort raising her three young girls with Robert Crouse: Lindi, Debbie, and Robin. Marlene was active in the Smithson School PTA and organizing events like the yearly fashion show.

She moved to Trinity County in 1963 where she and then-husband Durl Towne owned and operated a vibrant family-owned/operated restaurant, Big Bar Station, aka "Petticoat Junction" with the help of the now five daughters, Karen, Lindi, Christy, Debbie, and Robin. Marlene was known for her beautiful hand-sewn uniforms, delicious apple crisp pies, and homemade soups. Her culinary talents were known from Redding to Eureka as the restaurant was a must-stop place for the truckers as well as a popular family-environment establishment for locals.

Marlene returned to Redding in 1969 where she worked for Dr. Thomas, began studying at Shasta College, and switched careers to Travel Agent. She met and married Robert "Bob" Pugh, beginning a life of travel and adventure in the sky and on water. After receiving a pilot's license, she and Bob purchased an experimental aircraft. After sailing local Whiskeytown Lake, Bob and Marlene purchased a 38-foot Blackwatch sloop, "Taunt" and sailed from the Bahamas to the Carribean where they spent several years working for The Moorings in British Virgin Islands. While in the BVI, she taught sailmaking, macramé, and served as a chef on small sailboat excursions. Continuing their journey, they traveled through the Panama Canal and on to the South Pacific Society Islands, stopping off at the Sand Blas Islands. They spent a year sailing the Society Islands before sailing to Hawaii, spending a year in the Hawaiian Islands. They completed their journey sailing home to San Francisco.

In 1983 Marlene and Bob took "one last trip" that ended tragically in Bob's death.

Returning to Redding, Marlene resumed her career as a Travel Agent, meeting and marrying local businessman and land developer Dennis Moser. They enjoyed traveling and cruises to Zimbabwe, South Africa, Russia, Italy, Tahiti, Bahamas, England, Germany, Amsterdam, Alaska, and many places in between. They owned the notorious "Pink Ocean House" at Rum Point, Cayman Islands.
Marlene enjoyed ice skating, tap dance, ballet, competition water skiing, sewing costumes for art houses in Oakland, cake decorating, and entertained family members with her singing, dancing, poetry and journal writing.

Survivors include husband Dennis Moser; daughters Lindi Ramsey (Crouse) and Debbie Laffranchini (Crouse); step-daughters Karen Huff (Towne), Christy Upham (Towne) and Denise Suttcliffe (Moser); grandchildren Donnie and Shawn McMahon (Lindi), Michael, Caleb, and Jonathan Laffranchini (Debbie), and several step-grandchildren and great grand-children. She leaves her beloved sister and best friend, Gail Lenz and Carlene Wyrich (twin). She was preceded in death by her devoted daughter, Robin McConnell, sister Dixie Kerr, brother Randy Howard, and parents Robert Lloyd and Virginia Ray.

All who knew Marlene knew her to be kind, sweet, helpful, and someone who opened her heart to all and she will be greatly missed.

Service will be held Tuesday, March 17 at 11:00 am at the Veteran's Cemetery 11800 Gas Point Rd., Igo, CA.

Please join the family afterwards at St. James Lutheran Church (Socialization Hall) 2500 Shasta View Dr., from 1 to 3 pm to share in food and remembrances.

Please sign the guestbook at http://obits.redding.com