Marianne (Gilbert) Weeks 1939-2023

Marianne (Gilbert) Weeks was born in Golden on Aug. 31, 1939 and died in Tyler on Sept. 27, 2023. She was a much beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, teacher and friend.

Services were held at Beaty Funeral Service in Mineola on Monday, Oct. 2 with visitation at 10 a.m. and service  at 11. Burial followed at the adjacent Roselawn Cemetery. There was a reception following the burial at the funeral home.

Marianne was proceeded in death by her parents, Virgel and Billie (Defee) Gilbert of Golden; sister, Jonnie Trussel of Temple; and grandson, Chandler Brazell of Tyler.

She is survived by husband, Ronald J. (“Ron”) Weeks formally of Quitman and Mesquite now of Tyler; three children, son David of Richland, Wash. and wife Loretta Weeks, their son Robert, his wife Allie, and their son Harrison, and daughter Meghan and her husband Joshua; son Joel and wife Melissa Weeks of Grand Prairie and Joel’s son Justin, his wife Lyndy and daughter Katie; daughter Rhonda and husband Charles Brazell of Tyler and their son Chase, his wife Ashley and their daughter Chole, son Christian and daughter Rachel, her husband Jason, their daughter Emma, and son James. She is also survived by her sister, Sue LaBay of Longview, Sue’s children Debbie, Sharon, Randall and Judy; brother, John and his wife Susan Gilbert of Fort Worth; and sister Jonnie’s son Stephen and daughter Donna.

“Anne” graduated from Alba-Golden High School in 1957 and received a BS in education (with honors) from East Texas State Teachers College in 1960. Anne also received her master’s degree in education from East Texas State University in 1981 while working as a full-time teacher.

Her first teaching job was in Port Arthur in 1960 at which time she also married the love of her life, Ron. She taught elementary school in Beaumont and Houston, and then in Mesquite after taking time off to be a full-time Mom. She retired from MISD in 1999 after 23 years of service.

Ann’s primary passion in life was to serve as a wife, mother, grandmother and sister. She sacrificed her own personal wants and needs for her family. She fiercely supported her children and grandchildren in all their endeavors. She was always available to help a child or grandchild deal with life’s ups and downs. One of her greatest joys was to spend time with her sisters and brother and their families.

Anne loved God, her family, birds, gardening, traveling with her husband and friends, and kittens, in that order. She became especially devoted to birding after her retirement, traveling with her love Ron many times to the South Texas World Birding Center on Padre Island. She was a long-time member of the Highland Oaks Church of Christ in Dallas and so missed her friends after to moving to Tyler in 2016 due to the increased care required by the onset of her dementia illness.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Meadow Lake Assisted Living for their professional and loving care of Anne for almost seven years. We also thank Hospice Plus for helping Anne through her final days.

Last, but certainly not least, the family will never forget Tyler’s Visiting Angels. Angel Ritha Bellow provided loving care and support to Anne during her time in memory care, and she came to be an extended member of our family. Thank you Ritha for your tender loving care and support.