Marlene Louise Caskey
1957 - 2025
Marlene Louise Caskey was born in Cereal, Alberta in May of 1957. Marlene was the eldest of two sisters—both of whom continued the long legacy of farming alongside their parents Helen and Vernon Johnston. She went to a one-room schoolhouse in Helmsdale, followed by school in Cereal, where she met the love of her life Graham in high school. She added a pilot’s license to her valedictory senior year, just to make things interesting. After a lifetime training with on-farm jobs, her first off-farm job was trucking at the United Farmers of Alberta bulk fuel agency in Cereal. Graham and Marlene attended Olds College together to sharpen their skills and to plant the seeds of friendships that bloom to this day.
In 1977, a few weeks after Marlene’s 20th birthday, Graham and Marlene made their partnership official, got married, and added a bit of fertilizer to their shared dreams. That year marked not only their wedding, but the beginning of many adventures in farming and business—especially through their long and committed involvement with UFA and the Alberta Canola Producers Commission.
In everything Marlene did, her purpose was clear: to grow. Whether it was bushels of grain, lifetime relationships, or the countless people she supported and influenced—growth was her gift. She was a good boss and steady listening post to many. Marlene and Graham shared a vision, even if their styles were different. She was captivated by Graham’s spontaneity and talent, just as he was grounded and lifted by her raw ability to get things done—often while wearing an invisible superhero cape. That cape could transform from a warm hug to a sharp whip (and everything in between) in the blink of an eye, all in service of something bigger than herself.
In 1980 and 1982, she welcomed her two children, Justin and Christine, feeding them with love, and folding them into every part of her life—her work, her joy, and her boundless heart. She extended those gifts to her five grandchildren, who knew they were treasured beyond words.
Marlene passed away on April 15, 2025, a year after learning about her brain cancer diagnosis. Her life was too short, and the gap she leaves behind is wide. But that gap is also full. Full of love. Full of lessons. And full of her warm, persistent smile—a smile she gave deliberately, again and again, along with her favourite question, asked with such simple grace: “So, how are you doing?” Because she really wanted to know.
Marlene is survived by her mother Helen, husband Graham, son Justin (Christine) Caskey and grandchildren Owen, Grayson, and Rieka, daughter Christine (Roger) Laing, grandchildren Walker and Axel, sister Sandra, sisters-in-law Vera, Karen, and Noot, and brother-in-law Curtis, along with her much-loved nieces, nephews, and cousins near and far.
Her Celebration of Life was held at 2:00pm on Saturday, April 26, at the Oyen Seniors Recreation Centre. All are welcome.
Funeral arrangements in the care of MacLean's Funeral Home in Oyen, AB.
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