Born in Glendale, Ariz., on Dec. 22, 1947, Eva Marie Ann (Shaw) Upton entered Heaven’s Gate at her Catheys Valley home on April 25, 2026 at the age of 78.
She loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all her heart and was a member of the Catheys Valley Baptist Church.
She has one sister, Loretta Faye Phillips, of Athol, Idaho, and two brothers, Raymond Edward Shaw (Linda) of Nocona, Texas and Douglas James Shaw (Deborah) who resided in Ukiah, Calif., at the time of his death in 2013.
As a child, her dad nicknamed her “Pee Wee,” which she loved. Marie, as she was lovingly called by family and friends, was an active and talented person.
She began driving a school bus in Foresthill, Calif., when her children were young and retired as a school bus driver for disabled children in Susanville, Calif., in 1995. She cherished working as a bus driver for these special children and coached Special Olympics to spend more time with them, assisting them to overcome many challenges.
Other employment included being a restaurant cook and convalescent home nurse. Hobbies included making friends, serving others, crocheting, quilting, bead work, reading and collecting tea pots.
Marie graduated from Mariposa County High School on June 7, 1968. She married Johnnie Dale Upton in Reno, Nev., on Sept. 8, 1968.
They had one son, William Earl of Brookings, Ore., and one daughter, Lesli Lovell Langslet of Catheys Valley.
After her husband retired in 1996, they moved to Livingston, Texas, and began their travels. They spent 26 years as “Snowbirds,” a name for those who live in their recreational vehicle and travel full time.
During those years they traveled to almost every state in America, some many times over, and on their 50th wedding anniversary trip, spent a week at Niagara Falls and in 2018 went to Maine for a special lobster dinner.
They also traveled to Canada, Mexico, England, France and the Bahama Islands. During these travels, she saw many beautiful places and met some wonderful folks who became close family friends.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Edward and Sylvia Shaw; her brother, Douglas and his wife Debbie,and a brother-in-law Donald Z. Phillips of Mariposa.
She is survived by her husband of more than 57 years; her son, William and daughter, Lesli; her sister, Loretta and brother, Raymond (Linda); her three grandchildren, Arden, Lilly and Eva Lynn of Brookings, Ore., many nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends.
She was a lovely Christian lady, with a great smile, incredible hugs and a love felt by everyone she met. She will be missed by everyone who knew her!
A Celebration Of Life will be held at the Catheys Valley Baptist Church, 4565 Cornetts Entrance Road, Catheys Valley on Saturday, May 30, 2026, beginning at 11 a.m.. A pot luck meal will follow the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, Marie requested donations be made to the Paralyzed Veterans of America, an organization close to her heart. Their address is: PVA: Donation Processing Center, P.O. Box 758589, Topeka, KS 66675-8589.
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