Marjorie Marie Dean

Marjorie Marie Dean, 93. Born December 31,1926 in Los Angeles, California. Died July 26, 2020, in Visalia, California, due to Covid-19. She didn’t have the virus but due to the restrictions of sheltering in causing solitary confinement her mental health declined. Majorie was a very social person and not being able to be with people was difficult.

Marjorie was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend and most importantly a child of God. Marjorie was raised during the Great Depression and knew hardship. Her brother died at an early age of 12, leaving her at age 10 to be an only child and experience great loneliness.

At the ripe old age of 18 she met the love of her life Carroll Robert Dean. It was love at first sight; those dimples and smile swept her off her feet. It must have been the same for him as they were married soon after in April 1945. That first year there was minimal contact except for the letters written back and forth, this was during WWII. They were married just one month shy of 63 years.

Marjorie and Carroll had five children; Sharon, Diana, twins Carolyn and Marilyn and lastly the desired boy Michael. Marjorie always said she was “just” a housewife, but she was much more than that. She was a loving wife and made sure dinner was served at precisely 5:30 PM. She was the family organizer and financial planner teaching her children the value of money and how to stretch a dime.She made the majority of her girls clothes including each girls wedding dress.

Marjorie was not one to let unmet social needs go by the wayside.  She learned to care about her community as a teen when she was a member of Job's Daughters which community service was greatly valued as well as learning personal responsibility skills.  Marjorie earned her way through the various stations eventually serving in the highest station of her local chapter, called a Bethel, as Honored Queen.  Life long membership in community service was set by example of her parents. Her dad Henry Brittain was a Mason through his adult life and her mom, Delia Brittain, an Eastern Star up into her late 70's.

Marjorie was truly a valued community member. Supporting schools was very important to her. This included helping the PTA to raise funds for school needs by selling hotdogs on Thursday lunch hour, as there wasn’t a school cafeteria.  She had been awarded life long membership of the PTA for her years of services, including serving as PTA President. She was often seen helping to monitor the playground during recess and being a school room mother.

Marjorie was a  member of the Shell Beach Woman's Club, serving on numerous committees that were involved in community service. Service seemed to be Marjorie’s middle name.

Marjorie and her life long friend Anne Fiser helped start the Girl Scouts in the 5-Cities area.  They rounded up a number of other interested moms and began the first GS troops in the Pismo Beach and Grover City/Beach area.  Marjorie continued to participate in supporting Girl Scouts for many years.

Her faith was more than an internal relationship with Jesus it was an active part of her.  When living in Shell Beach and attending the Methodist Church there was a great need for a children's Sunday School.  Again, with other interested moms they participated in leading children's worship. With Lucy Westerlund accompanying on the piano the children learned many of the beloved hymns which Marjorie loved to sing. She shared in teaching the children the value of learning God's Word, which was a joy to her.

Since 1967 she was  member of the Arroyo Grande Presbyterian Church, which became Grace Bible Church . She was often found helping in the office on Mondays. She sang in the Church choir for as long as her voice allowed and her back held up. She was on numerous church committees and supported the missionary groups. Church babysitting was not a chore for her and Carroll when it served to allow younger mom's to attend Bible studies. Vacation Bible school was another activity and she also taught in the Good News Club with Barbara Grieb.

Marjorie was a participant for more than 25 years in the 5-Cities water aerobic class.  Her doctor recommended water aerobic exercise to help strengthen her back and minimize her pain. Once she started she would be found working those muscles usually 3 times a week up until age 92.  Marjorie started attending the water aerobics class when the 5-Cities water club was still at the Methodist Church camp ground above the Arroyo Grande village.

When her children were grown she decided that she had time now for memorizing Bible verses.  She decided to use the alphabet as her guide. She memorized at least one verse for each letter. Many times when her daughter Diana came to visit she would bring out her steno pad that she had written them on and see how many she could still recite.

Several years ago she attended her 70th class reunion of Los Angeles Polytechnic High School at Knox Berry Farm. It was a combined class event and she was the only member of her graduating class.

Marjorie valued her friends and family and kept in touch not only in person and telephone but through the mail. She always remembered special occasions and birthdays. 

She is survived by daughters; Sharon (Michael) Farage of Visalia, Diana (Steven) Galloway of Arroyo Grande, Twins Carolyn Dean of Arroyo Grande and Marilyn (Duane) Valentine of Visalia, Norma Dean (daughter-in-law) of Santa Maria and foster son Bill (Sheree) Edwards of El Dorado Hills.  Nine Grandchildren Thomas (Kate) Cassera, Danielle Valentine, Michael (Lindsey) Dean, Michael (Tracey) Farage, Kevin (Sandra) Farage, Timothy (Holly) Valentine and Jourdan, Connor and Ryan Edwards. Great Grandchildren Eric and Ryane Cassera, Karah, Michael and Kamile Dean, Justin, Kayla and Michael Farage, Ashley and Jacob Jimenez and Austin Valentine.   She was preceded in death by her parents John Henry Brittain and Delia Marie (Courteau) Brittain, brother John Henry Brittain, Jr, Husband Carroll Robert Dean and son Michael Robert Dean.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions a service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations to Grace Bible Church in Arroyo Grande’s Missionary fund would be appreciated.

Marjorie had 93 good years and had many blessings along the way

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