Marlene Quarles, 66 died on June 27, 2008 at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage from complications after surgery.

 She was born Marlene Marie Hunter, the daughter of Leonard and Ina Hunter on Aug. 27, 1941 in Red Lodge, Mont. She grew up on a ranch near Roberts with her sister and two brothers. She was a 1959 graduate of Roberts High School.

Quarles was best known for her ability to complete any crossword puzzle, her beautiful handwriting and her exceptional bookkeeping skills, her family said. She was a valued employee to all she worked for. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.  In 1961 she married Thomas (Jack) John Houghton. They had two children:  Michael, born in 1963, and Kimberly, in 1965. The marriage ended in divorce in 1969. In 1974 Marlene married George Quarles, divorcing in 1983.

She raised her children in Red Lodge, Mont., until 1983 when she moved to Great Falls. She subsequently moved to Arizona and Colorado to be near family members, before moving to Palmer to be near her sister.

 She was preceded in death by brother Robert Hunter, her parents, grandson Sean Michael and beloved son Michael Houghton.

 Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law Kim and Robert Cotta; granddaughter Anna Marie, all of Durango, Colo; sister Betty (Jack) Keener of Wasilla; brother Gene (Cheryl) Hunter of Billings, Mont.; aunt Maurine (Robert) Michaelies of Billings;  nieces Crystal Keener Nygard, Amie Keener Sommer and Kelly Hunter Green, all of Wasilla; nephews John Keener of Wasilla and Kevin Hunter of Moorcroft, Wy.; and nine great nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held for her and her son Michael Houghton in Roberts, Mont., next summer.

 Memorials may be made in Quarles’ name to the college fund of her only grandchild, Anna Marie Naomi Fiorenza, in care of First National Bank of Durango, 259 W. 9th St., Durango, CO  81301, (970) 247-3020.