Marlene Semple February 10, 1932 - May 10, 2023

Miami, Florida - Duane Tannenbaum passed away on July 11 following a brief yet aggressive illness. Born at Victoria Hospital in Miami, Duane was the first son of Ideal Norantonio and Eugene Tannenbaum. Embracing his status as a second-generation Miamian, he settled in the Redlands area in 1976. Duane is survived by his wife of 45 years, Rebecca, and their two daughters, Dara and Rachel. Together with Rebecca, he owned and operated Oasis Nursery. Duane will be fondly remembered for his exceptional musical talents, extensive knowledge of exotic and rare plants, and unmatched wit. In honor of his memory, a private service will be held.

Suwanee, Georgia - On Wednesday May 10, 2023, Marlene Semple, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend peacefully passed away.

Marlene C. Semple was born Elsa Marlene Cocker in Sarasota, Florida, on February 10, 1932. She was the only child of Oswald McKellar Cocker of Chatham, Ontario, and May Branch Cocker of Baxley, Georgia.

Marlene grew up in Miami, Florida, in a time when there was no air conditioning and Seminole Indian woman in traditional garb often shopped at a downtown fabric store. She attended public schools: Silver Bluff Elementary, Shenandoah Junior High, and Miami Senior High School. At Miami Senior High School, she was selected for the National Honor Society and earned memberships in the Miami High scholastic honorary.

It was in high school that she started her career in journalism and publishing. She was editor of the Miami High Times in her junior year and a member of the Miahi annual staff in her senior year. She always attributed her high school standards of writing and editing to her Miami High journalism teacher, Barbara Garfunkel. Marlene graduated from Miami Senior High in the class of 1950.

Marlene was awarded a Dade County scholarship to the University of Miami, where she continued her journalism studies, worked on the staff of the University newspaper, The Hurricane, and became a member of Chi Omega sorority. In her junior year, she left the University of Miami to work for the Navy Department in Washington, D.C., where she was on the staff of the Bureau of Ships Journal.

In 1954 she married another Miami High graduate, William R. Cotton, who soon completed his studies at the University of Maryland Dental School. They had three children: William Robert Cotton, Junior; David Michael Cotton; and Lynn Cotton Tavel. William Cotton, Senior, became a dental officer in the United States Navy, where he spent most of his career.

Marlene continued her college studies and graduated from George Washington University in 1958 with a major in journalism. Later, she earned a Master of Arts degree from Loyola University of Chicago, with a major in educational psychology. Her career led to writing and editing positions in educational and computer publishing. She became prominent in the Chicago publishing community and was a founder of Chicago Woman in Publishing, a professional association whose purpose is the advancement of women in the publishing industry. In 1983-1984 she was listed in Who’s Who in American Women.

In Chicago, Marlene married Dale D. Semple, a Chicago Publishing executive. They moved to Boca Raton,

Florida in 1984, where they continued their publishing careers. During her years at IBM in Boca Raton, Marlene became active in the Society for Technical Communication and the Usability Professionals’ Association. She won several awards for her work at IBM in publishing for personal computer users.

Marlene retired in 2004 to Melbourne, Florida, with her husband, Dale. Later she moved to Port St Lucie, to be near her son. In retirement she was active in environmental causes, literary activities, and a founding member of Living Faith Lutheran Church.

Marlene leaves her son Bob Cotton; David Cotton and his wife, Kathy; her daughter Lynn Tavel, and her husband, Gary; her stepdaughter, Marisue Semple Trevino, and her husband, Ralph Trevino; five grandchildren: Daniel Cotton, Adrienne Cotton, Lindsey Tavel, Nickolas Trevino, and Samuel Trevino and great-grandson Braydin LaRocco.

She is preceded in death by her husband Dale Semple and grand-daughter Kaitlyn Tavel.

Family and friends wishing to remember Marlene Cocker Semple are requested to contribute to The Nature Conservancy - or plant a tree in her memory.

A funeral service will be held at 2:30pm Friday, September 29, 2023, at the South Florida National Cemetery, 6501 South State Road 7, Lake Worth, Florida 33449.