It is with both sadness and comfort in Christ that we announce the passing of Marie McElroy, wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. After battling degeneration of her cerebellum for many years, Marie passed away in Atascadero, California, on Sunday, November 5th, 2025, at the age of 83. She was married for 62 years to her “best friend” James and was comforted by her loving children and family in her last year before she was reunited with him in heaven.

Marie was born to Arthur & Laura Newhouse in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 3rd, 1942. Marie spent most of her youth with her mother, father, sister and cousins in St. Louis who called her “Petey.” Old photos of Marie informed us she was fond of getting dressed up with her cousin and posing for glamour shots in their yard. When Marie was very young her family moved west to the Sacramento area where a relative was working and provided an introduction for her father to work at a similar job. Marie’s father, Arthur, later came to work at Mather Air Force Base maintaining test equipment in support of base operations.

The stability of the job at the base allowed her father and mother to buy a home and as Marie would later say, her mother always wanted to move to a new house every handful of years. Though the family moved, they never moved far. Marie attended Loretto High School for girls in Sacramento, CA and she kept close to her friends through phone calls and high school reunions.

It was in her senior year at Loretto High School that Marie met Jim McElroy when a friend went on a date with Jim but they didn’t “click”. The friend set Marie and Jim up for a date, and yes they most definitely “clicked.” Marie would chuckle when she shared how they would sit on the front porch talking until her mother would start flicking the porch light on and off. That meant the date was over and it was time to come inside. Marie and Jim were married on June 16th, 1962.

When Jim volunteered for service in the US Army, Marie would support him with visits as much as possible. Surprisingly he was not sent to Vietnam, instead he was ordered to the front lines of the cold war in West Germany. Later, Marie was allowed to join Jim at his post in Germany. They had many adventures and formed lifelong friendships that endure to this day.

After thirteen (13) years of marriage, and Jim’s leaving the army, Marie and Jim settled in Modesto, California and started a family. The Lord blessed them with two children Michael, born June of 1975 and Heather, born December 1978. The years following as their children grew were filled with annual crab feeds, sailing at Woodward Reservoir, choir performances, football games, track and field meets, trips to the Modesto Farmer’s Market, and MoBand concerts in the park.

The Lord expanded Marie and Jim’s family in 2002 with a daughter-in-law, Jean and then a son-in-law Patrick a few months later that year. In addition the Lord blessed Jim and Marie with five (5) amazing grandchildren: Abigail, Joshua, Catherine, Christianna, and Elizabeth. Marie loved when the family could all be together. She was always happiest when hosting big family gatherings like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Laura Newhouse and her husband James McElroy. Marie is survived by her loving children: Michael and his wife Jean, Heather and her husband Patrick. By her sister Helen and brother-in-law LeRoy Aubuchon.

Often, when one spouse passes the other will follow them soon afterward, so we are thankful to have had nearly another year with our mother since our father passed. Our mother told us she could always feel our father’s presence with her and that she spent her days in prayer for her friends and family. She also said she was at peace in her heart and ready to go when God decided it was her time. We are deeply grateful for the out-pouring of love, prayers, and support in many heart-felt forms from too many people to name individually. 

The funeral Mass offered for James McElroy can be viewed here, https://www.youtube.com/live/…

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