Marlene Catlin Cecil was called to be with her Heavenly Father on June 8, 2014 at the age of 56. She is survived by her husband Roger Cecil, her two children Kali (Nick) and Matthew, her mother Dianne Catlin and her brother Carl Catlin. She was preceded in death by her father William Catlin, but we have faith that she has joined him in happy reunion in heaven.

Marlene was born on April 17, 1958 in Washington D.C. to her parents William and Dianne Catlin. Her family moved to Fallbrook where Marlene attended and graduated from Fallbrook Union High School in 1975. She went on to attend and graduate from Grove City College in Pennsylvania in 1979 and later completed her Master's degree in 1987. She formed many lifelong friendships in her years in high school and college, many of which she held very dear until her time of passing.

Marlene married Roger Cecil on June 25, 1983 at Zion Lutheran Church. Together they spent many happy years and made a beautiful life filled with love together.

One of Marlene's greatest passions in life was also her career. Marlene worked at Mary Fay Pendleton School for 29 years, teaching kindergarten, first grade, and also spent 11 years as an administrator. She loved working with military families, and invested not just in each child in her classroom, but their families as well. She formed many lasting relationships with the children she taught and could remember each child by name even years later. One of her favorite parts of teaching at Mary Fay was the annual Father-Daughter dance, which she attended every year. She just finished the year teaching fifth grade at Fallbrook Street School.

Besides being a wonderful teacher, Marlene also attended Zion Lutheran Church, where she served in many different capacities. Marlene was the first to volunteer to help in any way she could, and was always eager to greet newcomers and make them feel welcome. She was a beloved member of Zion's church family and will be greatly missed.

I'm sure Marlene would say her greatest accomplishment in her entire life were her children, Kali and Matthew. She loved being a mom, and was so very proud of the amazing adults Kali and Matt turned out to be. She loved them very deeply and created an amazing childhood and life for them.

Marlene also had a special relationship with her late father, William Catlin, her mother Dianne, and her brother Carl. She was devoted to family and loved spending time with them. She and her brother were so close that they lived across the street from one another up until her passing.

Aside from her busy life as a teacher, a faithful church member, a mom, wife, sister, aunt, friend and Christian, Marlene loved to spend her time relaxing in the sun at the beach with a good book. It was one of her favorite ways to relax and enjoy the beauty of God's creation.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Luke 23:43 – Jesus answered him,"Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

A burial will take place at the Masonic Cemetery in Fallbrook at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, June 12. Her memorial service will then be at Zion Lutheran Church in Fallbrook at 2 p.m. with an appetizer reception immediately following in the Zion Fellowship Center.

In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to the Semper Fi Fund and/or Zion Lutheran Church. Both causes were very close to Marlene's heart.