Marianne 'Peggy' Virginia McClean Powers, 94

Dec. 11, 1921 — March 5, 2016

Marianne (“Peggy”) Virginia McClean Powers, 94, of Lemoore, Calif., passed away peacefully on March 5, 2016. Peggy was born on Dec. 11, 1921, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Harry and Hollace (Shaw) McClean.

Peggy, her twin brother, Robert, and older brother, Harry Jr., grew up in Los Angeles. The family would spend most of their summers at their mountain cabin in Big Bear, Calif. The children would spend their summer days riding horses with friends throughout a lush meadow of Skunk Cabbage. It was an idyllic time for Peggy and her brothers.

Peggy graduated from high school at Marlborough School in Los Angeles. Upon graduating from Marlborough, she attended Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., where she met lifelong friends and so enjoyed her four-year experience at Stanford.

In early 1945, Peggy met the love of her life, Bruce Ralph Powers, who was serving as a Merchant Marine during World War II. They had a whirlwind courtship and were married on Oct. 27, 1945.

Peggy and Bruce settled in Fullerton, Calif., in 1957, where they raised their three daughters. Peggy was truly the “perfect” Mom. She devoted her life caring for Bruce and their daughters, Patti, Jan and Nancy. Peggy volunteered with the Blue Birds, Girl Scouts, PTA, and tutored and assisted her daughters with their mounds of nightly homework.

Peggy was always a loving Mother to her family as well as to her daughters’ friends. Their Fullerton home was the central meeting place for the girls’ friends throughout their school days. Peggy was born with a heart that poured love to all she met. Peggy was also a talented, beautiful seamstress who designed her own patterns. Not only did she sew her own clothes, but Peggy sewed all of her daughters’ clothing as well. Patti, Jan and Nancy were truly blessed to wear clothes “designed by Mom.” Peggy was the consummate homemaker.

Peggy and Bruce were members of the First Presbyterian Church in Fullerton. Peggy enjoyed spending time with her ever-growing family, boating with Bruce and the girls in Newport Beach and Catalina Island. Peggy and Bruce would spend time with their family in Big Bear at the cabin in the Skunk Cabbage meadow. Peggy liked to ride horses at Peggy’s parents’ ranch in Chino, Calif. Peggy’s beautiful horse, Roxy, was especially dear to her heart.

For several years, when the girls were young, there would be an annual Easter Egg Hunt at “the Ranch” with family and friends. What fun the children had taking a hay ride to a special area of the ranch where the children would scamper to find the most eggs. Many weekends were spent at the ranch while Bruce assisted the ranch hands with branding the cattle. Peggy was a true Country Girl at heart despite her City upbringing. Peggy and Bruce began a family tradition during the summer of 1957 of vacationing on Balboa Island with their daughters each summer.

Bruce retired in 1990, and Peggy and he moved to Hayden Lake, Idaho. They so enjoyed the four seasons and boating on Hayden Lake and Lake Coeur d’Alene with Nancy and her family. Both Peggy and Bruce were active members of the First Presbyterian Church in Coeur d’Alene. Peggy also was active in the Women’s Group at the church. It was there where they both met many of their close friends while living in Idaho. They also met wonderful, caring neighbors who became very special friends to them both. Peggy relocated to Lemoore, Calif., in 2012 to live near Jan. Not surprisingly, Jan and her family have been wonderful caregivers to Mom while she lived in Lemoore.

Peggy was preceded in death by her loving husband, Bruce, in 2007. Peggy is survived by daughters, Patricia Anne Powers of Newport Beach, Calif., Janice Groefsema and her husband Clay of Lemoore, Calif., and Nancy Thomson and her husband Eric of Post Falls, Idaho; grandchildren Amy Groefsema, Brooke Lopes and husband Travis, Clay Groefsema, Major Clarke Groefsema, Brielle Ratkai and husband Zach, Kurt Thomson and wife Val, and Taylor Anne Powers; and great-grandchildren Haylee, Kaden, Kelen and Brooklyn Lopes, Brynn and Dylan Bisher, McKinley and Isabelle Thomson, Nicholas and Nolan Ratkai, and Addison and Hollis Groefsema.

A family memorial service will be held at a later time at the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery (a military cemetery) in Santa Nella, Calif., where Peggy and Bruce will be interred.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Team Dark Horse, the Support Group for Marine Battalion 3/5, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.; checks can be made payable to: Team Dark Horse, 25462 Nellie Gail Road, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. Please reference “Marianne Powers” on your check. This is a 501 (C) (3) nonprofit organization. IRS No. 27-4526336; to Dignity Health Hospice, 506 E. Plaza Drive, #7, Santa Maria, CA 93454; Hospice of North Idaho; or the First Presbyterian Church in Coeur d’Alene.

The family treasures memories of our dear Mom-Mimi and Dad-Poppi. You sweethearts are together again surrounded by each other’s love. We miss you both so much.