Marlene Crowley

Marlene Crowley (Aunt Weenie), 68, of Center, Texas, passed away on August 28, 2023, in Center. She was born on January 3, 1955, in Palestine, Texas, to the late Ernest McKinnley Gordon and Hessie Bee (Shelton) Gordon.

A funeral service was held on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Mangum Funeral Home. Interment followed at Strong Cemetery in Huxley.

Visitation was held prior to the service beginning at 10 a.m. at Mangum Funeral Home in Center.,

Our mom found happiness in so many ways and things. All are not perfect, but they were to her. She, with her sister most of the time, would ride backroads after our ball practices. She loved raising chickens. Found great joy in growing a garden. She loved going camping with family even if it was just 20 miles down the road.

Mom loved going to her brothers and especially him coming to our grandma’s house. That meant that all the family would be together. They would sing, eat, drink, and play dominoes. They would argue and laugh. These were some of the happiest times. She loved to play Yahtzee with her mom. Sometimes every day and sometimes from morning to night.

She loved sitting in the backyard around a campfire. We would go to bed, but my brother would stay up and sit with her and Aunt Sis all night. This was their time. She absolutely loved these moments and cherished them. Sometimes unwillingly. I remember being so aggravated but now that I think about it, I would give anything to have to put them to bed again. All of them.

She loved going to both of her sons’ homes with her sister by her side. She could not get enough of family. She went by a couple of names, Marlene to her friends, Mom, and Aunt Weenie by her nieces and nephews. She got aunt Weenie from her brother-in-law, as she would carry a wiener around folded in bread all the time, so her oldest nephew AL started calling her Aunt Weenie and it has stuck throughout the years.

She was also a very hard worker. We never remember her shying away from work. She made sure we had exactly what we needed. Our mom loved everyone. She was a mother to more than just her sons and thought of as one too. She treated her sister’s kids as if they were her own. Sometimes we thought she loved Teresa more than she did her own sons. She had plenty of love to give.

She loved Christmas at Teresa’s house. She loved that all would just be together during this special time. She found joy in everyone else’s joy. Especially the grandkids. Later in life she found joy in sharing a home with her sister. They seemed to always be together so why not live together. If you need the definition of true sisterly love, then all you had to do was witness these two together.

Our mom lived exactly how she wanted to. She will be sadly missed, greatly loved, but never will she be forgotten.

Marlene is survived by her sons, Travis Warner and wife Nicole, Anthony Warner and wife Crystal; grandchildren, Michael Warner, Cambell Warner, Kassidy Warner, Gage Warner, Braxton Warner, Braelynn Warner, Gabriel Warner, Mackenzie Warner, Mikayla Warner, Alyssa Warner; sister, Betty Reynolds; and a host of family and friends that will miss her dearly.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ernest McKinnley Gordon and Hessie Bee Gordon; and brother, Ernest Eugene Gordon.

To send condolences or to sign an online register, please visit www.mangumfh.net.

Mangum Funeral Home in Center was in charge of arrangements.