Marian Daune Read

Daune passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 23, 2023, in the early morning hours. She had been on hospice since mid-November. Tom Read took excellent, loving care of her before and during hospice. She was never in any pain. Daune may not have had an easy life, as she faced significant challenges at various points in her life, but she overcame those challenges with grace, grit, forgiveness, humility, and a beautiful smile. She went to college in her 30's. Somewhere in her journey of college and being a single mother, she met Tom. They were married in a small ceremony officiated by Tom's mother at Daune's mother's home in Miami. They later moved to Naples where she began her career as a respiratory therapist, dedicating herself to caring for others with compassion and friendliness. It was in Naples that she met one of the dearest, life-long friends a person could have, Christi Carson (CeeCee). She also formed other special, lasting friendships working at the hospitals in Naples: Mary Baker Libby. Then one day, in the early 2000's, she got the call from her daddy to come home, he needed her. Daune left her home, her job, her friends, and even Tom for a while, to come to Georgia to care for her mother. She cared for her mother for several years until the end, and then for her daddy until his end within the same year. While caring for her parents, Daune enjoyed caring for any and all children in the family and church. Daune's two greatest joys on earth were dogs and children. Once her parents were gone, in addition to caring for the children in the family, she started working at Belk in Douglas. She loved working there, especially in the children's section. She made so many friends there. It was a happy time for her. Then came the day, just before Covid first hit, that she needed to quit. Her memory was getting to the point she was getting lost in Douglas. Daune liked being at work. She liked wearing makeup, wearing pretty clothes, and being around people. It was hard for her to transition to having to stay home, and to eventually not being able to drive. But through it all, she was still a happy, beautiful spirit. Even in her last days, the hospice nurse, Amber, said that Daune was the bright spot of her days, and that she was a special spirit. Daune will be greatly missed by her loving husband, Tom, her daughter, Shaune Kroesser (Michael) son/grandson, Jordan Read, her grandchildren Ryan Kroesser & Cameron Kroesser (Hailey), and her great-grandson, Owen. Daune did not want a funeral or any ceremony or viewing. Her wish had always been to be cremated. In her last years, she expressed the wish for her ashes to be spread over the graves of the two dogs she loved the most, Dixie & Dagney, who are both buried out on the old Higgs family land in Axson, the portion still owned by her daughter. Her wishes will be carried out. Daune is at peace. Her spirit now lives in the next realm. She had a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. She knew this life was temporary. She knew one day her spirit would leave her body for a time, while she mingled with those she knew and loved in the spirit world. But she also knew that there would come a day for her body and spirit to be reunited, never to be separated again. She knew eternity was real, she knew the choices we make on earth had eternal ramifications. She did what any of us could hope to do, she did the best she could with the time she had. She loved honestly and sincerely, she forgave quickly, and she never gave up on anybody. She was a valiant, beautiful daughter of God on earth, and she continues to be His beautiful, loving daughter now in heaven. Thank you for being a part of her journey on earth. If you have any uplifting, happy stories or pictures of her to share with the family, please do so. Please forgive any mistakes or omissions made in this post. There is no way to sum up an entire life lived in just one post or obituary. The person we remember lives through the memories that we have of them, and those memories will be varied, creating a unique version of that person to us. Merry Christmas. Daune would want you to enjoy this beautiful time with love and happiness, not tears. This was her favorite time of year, especially when surrounded by as many of the people she loved as possible.

Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga. was in charge of the arrangements.