Marlene Mary (Dumont) Honaker

Marlene Mary (Dumont) Honaker passed away peacefully on May 21st, 2022, at Jackson Manor.

She was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa on May 5th, 1943, to her parents Bernard and Catherine (Gregan) Dumont. In 1951 the family moved to Crawfordsville, Iowa where she spent most of her raising.

Marlene studied to be a nurse in Iowa City and when she completed her training took her first nursing job. Later, she moved to New York for another job opportunity. She was not there long before she joined the United States Air Force in 1967 at age 23. She joined as a 2nd lieutenant then was promoted to 1st lieutenant before finally being promoted to captain. It was there that she met the love of her life, Ronald Honaker, and got her hand slapped for dating an enlisted man. They were married in the Air Force and were both honorably discharged in 1969. After discharge they moved around a bit. In 1970, while in Oregon City, Oregon their son Michael was born. A couple of years later, in 1972, while living in Washington, Iowa, their son Brian was born. In 1973 they settled in Columbia, Missouri where Marlene continued her long career as an ICU nurse; she worked at the VA Hospital where she was also head nurse.

After the great snowstorm of 1979, they decided Columbia was a bit too cold. They packed up and moved to Cape Coral, Florida; Marlene continued her nursing career in the ICU at Cape Coral Hospital. They stayed long enough for both sons to graduate from high school; Mike joined the Navy, and Brian started his college career. Then, they decided Florida was too hot and relocated back to Missouri, but this time below the snow line, to Cape Girardeau. They have called Cape home ever since. She continued her nursing career there in home healthcare and later, in 2002, retired while working for a senior living facility, Fountainbleau Lodge. She spent 37 years of her precious life taking care of people when they needed it most.

Marlene loved reading, bird watching, tending to her flowers, game shows, and making their home look nice. She also loved her pets: Sasha (dog), and Bitsy and Goldie (cats). She loved being Grandma and spending time with her sisters. And her true passion was being a nurse and taking care of people.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Catherine and Bernard Dumont; sisters Bernadine Dumont and Patricia Klumper; and, brother, Ted Dumont.

She is survived by her husband: Ron Honaker; sons: Michael Honaker, Maryville, TN, and Brian Honaker and wife, Lindsay, Knoxville, TN; grandchildren: Annie Beth and Tramel Wilson Honaker (Brian). She is also survived by her sisters: Martha and husband, John Lynn of IA, and Rita and husband, Gene Klumper, of MO; and brother-in-law Denny Klumper of IA; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

At the request of Marlene there will be no formal service. A private service with military honors will be held at Mountain Home National Cemetery at a later date.

To send a condolence to the family please visit Marlene's obituary page at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.

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