Marion Frances Blake Stone's Obituary
Our mother passed away peacefully on the afternoon of January 20, 2021 at the age of 95, or as she would say "working on 96!". She was her feisty, independent self through all her days, and even though vascular dementia and other medical issues slowed her down, they never broke her spirit. We were so fortunate that she always remembered us and could enjoy a conversation. Even the one time when she told Eleanor "you look exactly like my daughter!", she still recognized her daughter's face.
Marion was born October 20, 1925 in Fullerton, CA to Larkin Lafayette Blake and Martha Floe Alexander Blake. She was the middle child between her older brother, Fred, and her younger sister, Dorothy. The family was in California only for Marion's early childhood, then moved to Texas after living in Oklahoma for a short time. Her father worked for Dowell, a division of Dow Chemical, as an oil field engineer, which meant frequent moves for the family. In Texas, they lived in both Kilgore and Tyler.
She went to Kilgore Junior College and secretarial school. She moved to Houston on her own in her late teens and worked first for Texaco, then for Arthur Andersen. It was in Houston that she met the love of her life, Phillip Mason Hunt, Jr. They were married August 14, 1948 and enjoyed 12 wonderful years together until, tragically, Phil contracted leukemia and died December 6, 1960. They adopted two children, Eleanor May Hunt in 1954 and Alan Blake Hunt in 1958. Marion was married again June 15, 1961 to Horace Jerome Stone (Jerry), and they welcomed their son, John Thomas Stone, June 22, 1962. Marion was always especially proud that her three children were very close, bonded not by blood but by family. The Stones moved from Houston to Richardson in early 1966, where Marion resided for the rest of her life. Her last residence was at Guardian Angels Group Home in Richardson, where she had been lovingly cared for since July of 2019. We will be forever grateful to Joshua and his wonderful staff of caregivers who looked after Mom so well. Thank you also to all of the staff at Total Hospice who provided additional support during her last months, and especially her last days.
Marion was the General Manager for many years at the family business, Stone Associates, a Manufacturer's Rep. agency for construction and demolition equipment. She was well-versed in all of the details of the lines they represented and could hold her own discussing them with anyone, including the CEO's of the various lines and the owners of the rental equipment companies, as well as the people actually working the equipment. Her knowledge and ability to hold a conversation with anyone was especially important when she and Jerry, and later Alan, represented Stone Associates at many national trade shows over the years. She even acted as an unofficial "tour guide" for the wives of their customers at these shows, taking them to many of the highlights the different cities had to offer. In her later years, Marion worked as Claims Manager for Corporate Relocation and was able to put her conversation and negotiating skills to work there as well.
Marion loved to cook and garden, and excelled at both. Her gumbo recipe was legendary; it was always a privilege and delight to be invited over for gumbo. And you could count on the fact that any recipe she made had a little different twist to whatever was on the page, just to make it more her own. She could grow pretty much anything in her garden, especially many experimental roses through a program with Jackson-Perkins. For many years the entire length of the side parkway was lined with beautiful rose bushes, and the neighborhood children loved to take a rose to the teacher or their mother. Her children, however, had a different viewpoint in that a frequent punishment for bad behavior was to "go out and weed the rose bed"! Marion was also an experienced knitter and made many beautiful sweaters and afghans over the years.
Marion was predeceased by both Phil and Jerry, and her son John, as well as her brother and sister, relatives Pat and Charlie Frobese, and dear friends Jean Clark, Maggie Me!lady, and Nancy Evans. She is survived by her daughter Eleanor, son Alan and daughter-in-law Debby, and cousins Doug Frobese, Kathryn Frobese, and Francie Frobese Newsom.
A Celebration of Life in her honor will be held at a future date once COVID restrictions have been lifted. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Methodist Children's Home or the American Heart Association.
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