Marlene Joane WHALEN
August 24, 1936 - January 14, 2015
Obituary
Marlene passed away peacefully on Wednesday January 14th, 2015, at the age of 78, of pneumonia.
Marlene was born in Casper, Wyoming on August 24, 1936. She moved to the Seattle area with her family when her father went to work at the shipyards as a welder in the early 1940s. She grew up in the Highpoint area of West Seattle and attended West Seattle and Highline high schools.
She welcomed her son Jeff Adams in 1956 and shortly after began her career at Boeing where she worked in personnel until her retirement in 1994. She made many great friends there that she shared a lifetime of good times and laughter with. While at Boeing, Marlene met her future husband Jerry Whalen, and they married in 1968. They welcomed their son Jerry Jr. in 1972.
When she was a young woman Marlene enjoyed searching for different types of rocks and spent time with her father making jewelry with her treasures. Marlene loved nature and spent a great deal of time camping with her family. A few of her favorite places were at the family property in Long Beach, WA and in Eastern WA in and around Cle Elum where they purchased property and eventually built their dream home for retirement. Many great times were spent entertaining friends and family around the campfire where the beer and stories flowed freely and she was able to showcase her cooking for a crowd. Another favorite past time was putting her money in the slot machines both in Reno and at the Muckleshoot casino.
She was a lover of animals and always had a pup or kitty that she had rescued by her side. She knew many types of birds by sight and had beautiful flowers in her garden. She was tough as nails and had a wicked sense of humor. She was very much loved and will be dearly missed!
Marlene is survived by her mother, Marie (Johnson) Hancock; sons Jeffrey Adams (Tonja) and Jerry Whalen Jr. (Milisa), grandchildren Haley Adams (23), Joshua Whalen (13), Macy Whalen (3); sisters Marilyn Tatro, Sharon Christopherson (Chris), and brother Dick Hancock (Shirley); and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father Ferdinand (Tex) Hancock, her husband of 40 years, Gerald Whalen Sr., and her brother-in-law Don Tatro.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrances to the American Lung Association or the Humane Society.
Loved knowingyou and your beautiful family. Will always remember the fun times at clelum card games etc.will miss you.
Love
Joanie
dear marlene whalen.i miss you lot more,thanks aaron
I worked for many years with Marlene – she was one of a kind and I loved her dearly! Rest in Peace Dear Marlene!!
As good friends as we are with you both it was a pleasure to know your mom, Jeff…and share some good times with her. Good people go to good places and never leave hearts!
Sincerely
Neli & Derek
Mitchell Jerry Enos
dear marlene whalen
on the behave of the parker family team
we are miss you in heaven right now ,you are the greatests
from aaron