Marion Petra Stinson

Marion Petra Stinson, age 78, of Crestview, Florida, passed away in her home on the 3rd day of February, 2025.

She was born August 20, 1946, in Berlin, Germany to Werner and Gertrude Grosser. The family emigrated to Berlin, on the Castel Felice, an Italian passenger ship, to Toronto, Canada in 1957, and then entered the United States as legal immigrants on August 14, 1960; where Marion became a “California Girl”. Marion resided first in Santa Monica, California, and later, Pasadena, where she graduated from high school.

Marion married Charles Lee Gipson in August of 1966; they had two children, Lianne (b. June 28, 1967) and Tracy (b. January 31, 1971), and then were divorced July of 1976.

Meeting Randall (Randy) Stinson in 1980, they were married March 5, 1983, in Olympia, Washington, and remained devoted to each other until the time of her death.

Marion loved children, and combined with her philanthropic nature, she was a devoted benefactor to St Jude’s Children’s Hospitals, religiously donating every year. In lieu of flowers or sympathies, if you wish to honor Marion, please make a donation to St Jude’s in her name.

She was also a caring and nurturing “Mom” to many single or separated soldiers in the United States Army from March 1984 to August 1997, while Randy was on active duty; she served happily as a military wife in Vicenza Italy for four years, and in Heidelberg and Stuttgart, Germany for eight years, as well as stateside (Ft. Irwin California and Ft. Lewis Washington) before and after Europe.

Besides her children, husbands, family and close friends, Marion’s other great love was music. She loved James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, The Moody Blues, Ella Fitzgerald, big band, California 60’s pop, folk, jazz, blues, and, of course, The Beatles that she shared with her husband.

Marion is survived by her husband, Randall Stinson; her daughters, Lianne Heerdegen and Tracy Anderson; her granddaughters, Nicole Chance and Angelia Heerdegen; her grandson, Jeremy Heerdegen; and her great grandchildren: Gracie, Lucas, and Simon Chance.

Marion was preceded in death by her son, Adam Chase Woods, whom was given up for adoption at his birth on February 12, 1964. Adam passed away November 14, 2022. They had found each other fifteen years prior and reconnected, becoming close and caring for each other. They are now together until the rest of us join them.