Marlene Kay Neve`

Marlene Kay Neve' passed away at her home with family by her side, on February 23, 2017. She was 81 years old. Marlene was born September 6, 1935 in Zanesville, Ohio to Leonard Laverne and Lillian Ada (Riggle) Wilson.

Marlene lived in Alaska from 1955-1984 in Anchorage, Seward, Fairbanks, and Juneau. In 1969, she became the COPE (Committee on Political Education) Director for the Alaska AFL-CIO Other positions she held were the Director of Elections for the State of Alaska and the Chairman of the South Central Democratic Party. In 1984, Marlene moved to Washington D.C. to become the Labor Liaison to the Democratic National Committee for the National AFL-CIO. Moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1988, she became the Regional COPE Director for the National AFL-CIO covering Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas. She retired in 1999 and was a lifelong volunteer, activist and leader with a strong commitment to the working men and women of this country. She was inducted into the Labor Hall of Fame by the Oklahoma State AFL-CIO in 2011.

Marlene was preceded in death by her mother, Lillian Friel, and her father. She is survived by her brother, William (Pam) Gilger; her children Kimberly (Skip) Reierson, Kevin (Tina) Kahler, Kelly (John) Smith, Keith Kirkbride, Kent (Pam) Kahler, Kaylene (Rob) Goebel, and Karolyn Hastings; 13 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

A local service will not be held. The internment of her ashes will be in the Zanesville Memorial Park in Ohio. In Leiu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Marlene Neve' to the Seward Community Foundation Fund at www.sewardcf.org.