Marjorie Ann Strawser

Marjorie Strawser of Visalia, California passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, November 1, 2018, at the age of 87. She was born Marjorie Ann Jacobs on February 1, 1931 in Alameda, CA to Michael and Jeanette Aslin Jacobs. She was the third of five children. The family later moved to Visalia and her childhood years were spent on the family farm in east Visalia. Marjorie attended George McCann School and graduated from Visalia Union High School, which is where she met the love of her life, Norman "Gene" Strawser. She and Gene were married on February 6, 1949 in a ceremony performed by a Navy Chaplin at Treasure Island in San Francisco, where Gene was stationed. After Gene's discharge from the Navy, they relocated to the Valley. Marjorie and Gene's daughter Renda was born in Visalia in 1950. Mike followed in 1956, and Karen in 1958. Marjorie had a daycare in her home for many years. She took care of lots of children that still remember her fondly. She had a way of making each of them feel special. Her favorite pastimes included sewing, embroidery, gardening, cooking, and reading. She loved babysitting her grandson Zachary, and he became a very special person in her life. Family vacations were always about camping. The family spent many years camping in Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and Jedediah Smith State Park near the Oregon border. Those tent camping days were priceless as were the memories of picking wild blackberries at Jedediah Smith with Marjorie making Gene's favorite blackberry cobbler in a dutch oven on a camp stove. In 1976, Marjorie and Gene bought a fifth wheel trailer. They traveled all over the United States visiting almost every National Park and Monument. They shared a great love of the mountains, especially the Grand Tetons. Marjorie was preceded in death by both daughters, Renda Sharpe in 2009, and Karen Schembri in 2017. Gene, her beloved husband of 60 years, passed away in 2009. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Jeanette Jacobs, her sisters Betty Winslow and Barbara Grove, and her son-in-law Chuck Schembri. She is survived by her son Mike Strawser and his wife Virginia of Visalia; grandson Zach Strawser and his wife Mary of Garland, Texas; and son-in-law Brad Sharpe of Hayward. She also leaves behind her brothers, Richard Jacobs and his wife Mardy of Barstow and Don Jacobs and his wife Eloise of Visalia, along with nieces, nephews and many close friends. Marjorie touched the hearts of many and will truly be missed. We're sure she's sitting around that great campfire in Heaven, enjoying a cup of tea, and catching up on all the gossip. Per her request, there will be no services. Condolences can be made to www.salseranddillard.com

Marjorie Ann Strawser

February 1, 1931 - November 1, 2018