My name is Aileen Evans, and I feel blessed to have known Marie for nearly 16 years. I met Marie in August of 1996. My husband Bud and I had lived and worked in the Portland, Oregon area for over a year, and we weren’t sure where we would end up. So we made a six month plan. Either I get a permanent job in the Bay Area by year end, or we put our house on the market and move up north permanently. So I flew back to Oakland, signed up with a search firm and began my job hunting in earnest. The job market was slow then, so I also signed up with a temp agency to keep myself busy. One temp assignment brought me to Personnel Services at the Port of Oakland, which was headed by Marie and included Kim, Claire, and Bertha,(and later Cherrie and Nhan). Like a mother hen, Marie welcomed me into her group. Soon I was included in lunches at Le Cheval or a Vietnamese noodle shop, and on special occasions, Kincaid’s. Lunch was always important to Marie. It was a time to share some laughter and relaxation away from the office. It was always “dutch”, but for those special occasions, Marie would insist on paying for a round of appetizers or dessert at Kincaid’s. To make a long story short, I eventually applied for an opening at the Port and was hired in December 1996, which led to a 13 year career at the Port of Oakland. Had it not been for Marie's welcoming ways, I may not have considered working there. Marie was honest to the core, caring and generous, but also fun and funny. She even convinced me and my reluctant husband to join her and her sister Edna in a ballroom dancing class in Oakland's Chinatown. Marie, I know you are here in spirit, still watching over us. Thank you for that initial welcome that led my career in a new direction, but more importantly, to lifelong friendships, especially with you and Rick. Thank you for your good-hearted generosity, your fun and funny, energetic ways. There are so many happy memories to cherish. And I know you were even more caring and generous to Rick and your extended family, especially the little ones. Marie, I can see you now looking upward and waving your finger and saying, “You know, life was good but it was also hard sometimes. But I did as much as I could, and I did the best I could.” And I can hear the voice from above saying, “Yes, I know, Marie. Thank you for a job well done.” God bless you, Marie. We will all miss you dearly, but you’ll always remain in our hearts.