Earlene Evelyn Longeway age 76, passed on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 in Atwater, CA after a lengthy struggle fighting cancer.
She was born Earlene Evelyn Smith, March 22, 1936 in Caldwell, Idaho, where she attended local schools. She was the oldest of two children born to Jess and Iva Smith of Caldwell. On October 14, 1952, she married Marvin Otto, and had two children Karen Ann and Gary Wayne. They then moved to Boise, where Earlene was a housewife, and her husband was a carpenter. In 1969, they divorced. Earlene and the children moved to Modesto CA.
While working at the local canneries, she attended Adrians Beauty College and worked as a hairdresser for over 14 years in the Modesto and Sonora area. She really enjoyed the beauty business and even did some modeling for local businesses. Where she married for a short time to Daniel Longeway of Sonora. She then returned to college in Merced, and got her licensed vocational nurse LVN, degree and worked at Emanuel hospital in Turlock. While working as a LVN, she went back to school and got her registered nurse RN license. She worked in the OB obstetrical department as a charge nurse in Mother/Baby for over twenty years, when she retired at age 66. She loved nursing and all the lives and hearts she touched, working with the babies and the new moms.
She lived in Atwater, CA for many years, keeping an immaculate house and yard. She loved gardening, ceramics, interior decorating, playing scrabble, and working in the flowers. She loved music, playing the piano and the organ. She could hear a song on the radio, go to the piano and was able to play it. She was an excellent cook, family dinners, and holidays were quite memorable.
Earlene was full of joy, love to laugh and tell jokes. There was never a dull moment with her around. Earlene enjoyed traveling with friends and family: especially her trips to Hawaii, Alaska, Monterey and Carmel. She loved the ocean.
After her retirement, she returned to Idaho in 2005. Recently she returned to California to live with her daughter, following her cancer surgery a year ago.
Earlene is survived by her brother, Dale Smith and his wife Alice, of Caldwell, Idaho. Daughter, Karen Gray of Atwater, a son, Gary Otto of Modesto, and grandchildren Michelle and Charles of Atwater, which she was very proud of.
She was a wonderful, beautiful lady inside and out, and she will be truly missed by all who knew her. A special thank you, to friends and family who were caregivers during this trying time. May she rest in peace.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, February 21, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., at Ivers & Alcorn Funeral Home, 3050 Winton Way in Atwater. A Chapel Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 22, 2013 at Ivers & Alcorn Funeral Home in Atwater. The burial will follow at Winton District Cemetery in Winton.
The family asks that flowers be sent to Ivers and Alcorn Funeral Home in Earlene’s name.