OBITUARIES OBITUARIES (February 07, 2001)

Ernest Collins

Lived in three centuries

Ernest Edward Collins of Menlo Park, who was born in 1898, and lived in three centuries, died February 1 at age 102.

Mr. Collins was born in Iowa and moved to San Francisco with his family. While still in high school, he started working for Standard Oil Company of California, continued through law school, and retired as a CEO of Stanford Oil of California after a 42-year career.

Mr. Collins and his wife of 72 years, Muriel, lived in Hillsborough until her death in 1993. Mr. Collins then moved to a retirement home in Menlo Park to be near his family.

Mr. Collins is survived by daughters Barbara Gray of Atherton and Lee Harnett of Palo Alto; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

A private funeral Mass was held February 5 at St. Denis Catholic Church, Menlo Park.

Remembrances may be made to the Hanna Boys Center, P.O. Box 100, Sonoma, CA 95476. Arrangements under the direction of the Menlo Park Chapel of Spangler Mortuaries.

Frederick Storek

Retired factory manager

Services were held February 5 at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church for Frederick A. Storek, a 46 year resident of Menlo Park, who died January 30. He was 83.

A native of San Francisco, Mr. Storek attended local schools and worked for his family's leather business, Western Manufacturing Company.

He later became part-owner and factory manager for B. Pasquale Company of San Francisco, where he brought his expertise in leather to the company, which also manufactured flags and banners. He retired 15 years ago.

Mr. Storek was a member of the Masonic Order of Free & Accepted Masons #136 of San Francisco, Lebanon Pacific Lodge.

He and his wife, Ruth, were active members of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Storek is survived by his wife of 54 years, Ruth of Menlo Park; son Fred Storek of Sunnyvale; daughter Marcy Rosenberg of San Jose; sister, Frances Alvarado of Petaluma; three grandchildren. A son, John Storek, preceded Mr. Storek in death.

The family prefers donations to a charity of choice. Arrangements were under the direction of the Menlo Park Chapel of Spangler Mortuaries.

Cleo Standlee

Longtime Menlo Park resident

Cleo Standlee, a resident of Menlo Park for 50 years, died January 27 in Lafayette, California.

She was born in Glendive, Montana, and as a child moved to Camas, Washington. She later moved to Laguna Beach, California, where she met her future husband, Norm Standlee, a member of the San Francisco 49ers football team. They lived in San Francisco and then moved to Menlo Park with their two daughters. Mrs. Standlee moved to the East Bay last year.

Mrs. Standlee was an avid gardener blessed with "a green thumb," say family members. She was a member of the Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary to the Children's Hospital and, when her daughters were young, was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader.

She worked for many years at Franes gift shop in Menlo Park and at the Wick Candle Shop at the Allied Arts Guild.

"Blessed with an indominable spirit, she will be missed by many," said her daughter Susan Crane.

Mrs. Standlee is survived by her daughters, Shirley Standlee Moore of Orinda and Susan Standlee Crane of Palo Alto, and her grandchildren, Meredith Moore and Duncan Moore of Orinda and Ellen Crane of Palo Alto.

A service celebrating her life will be held at the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church at 1 p.m. Tuesday, February 13, with a reception immediately following at the home of her friend Helen Dallmar of Menlo Park.

The family prefers donations to the Alzheimer's Association or the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.

Bernard Brawner

Swimming pool company owner

Bernard Brawner of Menlo Park died January 20 at the age of 78. The cause of death was a heart attack.

A native of Clinton, Missouri, Mr. Brawner served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and the Korean War.

He moved to California 50 years ago, working in the swimming pool construction industry. A former executive of Anthony Pools, he founded the Brawner Pool Co. in San Jose in 1970.

An avid golfer, Mr. Brawner was a former member of Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, where he was club champion in 1963. Most recently, he was a member of Sharon Heights Country Club in Menlo Park.

Mr. Brawner is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Peterson-Brawner of Menlo Park; a daughter, Bridget Healy of Palm Beach, Florida; and a brother, Thomas Brawner of Dallas.

Private services were under the direction of Menlo Park Chapel of Spangler Mortuaries.

The family prefers that memorial donations be may to the Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, 725 Welch Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304.