Lucy Lorraine James

Lucy Lorraine James 1918 - 2012
Lucy Lorraine James died peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, February 21, 2012. She was known as Lucy, Lorraine, or Lanie. Her kind heart, positive attitude, incredible intelligence, fearless spirit, impeccable style, and wonderful laugh made her a true treasure to her family and many friends. She will be missed and remembered by all.
Lucy Lorraine Marker was born in Ozawkie, Kansas in 1918. Raised on a farm, she was no stranger to hard work. At Perry High School she was a star basketball player, and played professionally for the Penzoil Girls and Ed Hardy Electric teams. After business college in Topeka, she worked various clerical jobs and then for TWA. Always up for an adventure, she moved by herself to Los Angeles, California in 1944 where she performed medical office work and later met the love of her life, Kenny James.
Lucy and Kenny married in 1947. Truly happy together, they loved to spend their time with family, raising poodles and other pets, golfing, traveling, and working hard. They moved to Newport Beach in 1964 where Lucy worked in Real Estate for a while. She found her calling in an 18-year career at UCI in the Financial Aid and Housing departments. After a happy, harmonious, and laughter-filled marriage, Kenny fell ill, and Lucy spent every day caring for him with love and devotion until Kenny passed away in 2001.
Lucy had a sense of style that was timeless. She always wore a dress, high heels, and had her gorgeous hair perfectly coiffed at all times. She loved to collect things she found beautiful or interesting. As a warm-hearted and giving woman, she spent many years volunteering, especially for the Women’s Auxiliary of the Arthritis Foundation. After Kenny’s death, she traveled with her nieces and nephews to wonderful places. She loved her daily routines as well, including many crossword puzzles each day, communicating with friends and family by phone or mail, and playing card games at every possible opportunity.
During her last year, she fell ill and became a patient at Mesa Verde Convalescent Hospital in Costa Mesa, where Kenny had been years before, and where she had volunteered many, many hours of service. The staff and fellow patients all loved her dearly, and her nickname there was Laughing Lucy. Her positive outlook on life made anyone who met her fall in love, and her laughter kept us all coming back for more.
Lucy Lorraine James was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth R. James, parents Charles Oscar Marker and Lucy Olevia Johnson Marker, siblings Merlyn Oscar, Donald Melvyn, and Marvin Charles Marker, sister-in-law Lenore Marker, niece Lucy Elaine Marker, and nephew Jack William Marker. She is survived by her sister Doris Helen Nelson, her sister-in-law Ruth Eljean Marker, nephews and nieces William Oscar Durbon (Geraldine), Carol Jean Marker (Dennis), Diana Crose (Dan), Jill Margaret Guhy, Jon Michael Marker, Jan Marker Zahn (Tom), James Charles Marker (Merrill), and great nephews and great nieces Michael Durbon (Marilyn), Jack Crose (Belinda), Cynthia Wrightson (Robert), John Crose (Hanh), Jennifer Nisenson, David Naftel, Amanda Neafus, Daniel Zahn, Kathryn Buehler (Alan), Alexander Marker, and great-great grand nephews and nieces Douglas, Jordan, Kyra, Kyle, Austin, Alyk, Micah, Charlie, and soon-to-be Marvin.
Lucy Lorraine James was a member of the Neptune Society, and made all arrangements for her burial in advance. She did not wish to have a funeral or a service, nor did she wish for sadness at her passing. Her ashes will be scattered at sea on March 6, 2012 without ceremony. Friends and family are welcome to take a moment on that day, and remember her with love not tears. She would be pleased if we all would share a laugh, a joke, or a smile with our loved ones and remember all the wonderful times we had.
We who loved her are grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of her life. Lucy Lorraine James will live on in our hearts forever.