Our beloved, Marilouise G. Gocken, 94, of Centralia, went home to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the early morning hours of May 24, 2022. She passed while holding her sweetheart’s hand.
Marilouise was born Jan. 14, 1928, in Hollywood, California, to Donald and Virginia (Fitch) Grattidge. Her family moved to Crestline in 1934. Following her graduation from high school, she earned her associate’s degree in business from San Bernardino Valley College and worked for Senator Gordon Swing in the 1940s.
Marilouise married and raised three children: Robert, Bonnie and Brian. After 42 years, she relocated to the nearby city of San Bernardino after being widowed.
Marilouise and Dale’s journey began when they met in 1982 at a Parents without Partners meeting at the Bank of Redlands in Redlands, California.
The happy couple established a home together not long afterward, and Dale asked her to marry him in 1983. They married at the historic Edwards Mansion in Redlands, blending their two families.
Dale retired in 1986 from Sater Bros. Market, where he was the chief mechanical engineer. He and Marilouise purchased a brand new Ford and 34-foot fifth wheel and headed to Gold Beach, Oregon, for their first trip. They liked it so much, they bought some property there with access to the Rogue River.
Other destinations included Yuma, Arizona (by trailer), Abacos Island, an island owned by the Green Turtle Yacht Club, the Dutch Antilles Island in South America, the Panama Canal, Costa Rica and Alaska’s Yukon Territory.
In the midst of their adventures, Marilouise and Dale went back to Gold Beach and built their own salmon hatchery, raising an average of 100,000 Rogue River spring chinook per year during their stay.
In 1989, they moved to Rochester, Washington, after seeing property for sale off of School Land Road and started raising Christmas trees (nearly 10,000) to be shipped off to other areas like Hawaii.
They moved to Centralia’s Golden Estates around 1999, where they lived out the past 23 years in retirement bliss.
Marilouise loved life and was loved by those lucky enough to get to know her. She was such a talented and generous woman. She made winter hats for cancer patients and survivors of natural disasters and sewed her own “Cabbage Patch” dolls, clothing and other items for their home. She also enjoyed cooking for others and canning all sorts of goods from fish to veggies.
She was preceded in death by her parents, stepson Dale Gocken, Jr., stepdaughter Yvette Morgan, and her Yorkie Nikkii.
Marilouise is lovingly remembered by her soul mate Dale Gocken; sons Robert and Brian Beehler; daughter Bonnie Criswell; stepdaughters Evelyn Comfort and LaNette Vassar; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren; Sweet-Pea the Yorkie; and Fe-Be, the Lilac Crowned Amazon.
A small celebration of Marilouise’s life will be announced at a later date.
“Blessed by God-for a full life and love.”
Salmon Patties
Ingredients:
1 can (16 ounces) salmon
½ cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons Crisco
⅔ cup fine dry bread crumbs
2 eggs, beaten
¼ cup snipped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon dry mustard
3 tablespoon Crisco
Lemony Cheese Sauce
(recipe follows)
Directions:
Drain salmon, reserving ⅓ cup liquid. Discard bones and skin. Flake meat. Cook onion in 2 tablespoons of Crisco until tender. Add reserved liquid, ⅓ cup of the bread crumbs, eggs, pasley, mustard and salmon, mix well. Shape mixture into six patties; roll in remaining bread crumbs. In a skillet, melt 3 tablespoons Crisco. Brown patties over medium heat, turn and brown on the other side. Serve with Lemony Cheese Sauce.
Lemony Cheese Sauce:
In a saucepan melt 2 tablespoons Crisco, stir in 2 tablespoons flour,1 teaspoon salt and a dash of pepper. Add 1 cup milk, stir over low heat until thickened. Stir a moderate amount of hot mixture into two beaten egg yolks. Return to the hot mixture. Stir in ½ cup shredded sharp process American cheese and 2 tablespoons lemon juice and stir until cheese melts.
