Marlene Annette Bright – Woodland Park, N.J. Formerly of Monessen

Marlene Annette Bright, 80, of Woodland Park, N.J., formerly of Monessen, passed away on Saturday July 6, 2019. She was the daughter of the late Clifford and Edna Ward Gambrill, and was raised by her grandmother, Elizabeth Gambrill. Marlene resided in Monessen most of her life and was a 1956 graduate of Monessen High School. One of three women hired by Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel in 1974, as a track gang railroad worker, Marlene became the first woman to retire from Koppers Industries in 2004. Marlene was a close and accepted member of Judge David Weiss’ family, were she was a caregiver to the Weis children: Shelly, Janis and Jay. Marlene has been a member of Wayman AME Church of Monessen since 1953 and served as a faithful member of the Usher Board from 1963 until 2009. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Jeanie “Dino” Davis; a grandson, Clifton Gore III; her three brothers, Clifford “Sandy,” Fred and Frank Gambrill; niece, Rhonda Gambrill; a close companion, Howard “Snags” Paige; and longtime friends, Tilly Shaw and Madeline McCollum. Marlene is survived by two sons, Michael (Christinia) Bright of Woodland Park, N.J., Roscoe (Amanda) Bright of Ohio; two daughters, Connie (Mark) Price of Virginia, Willie Ann (Clifton) Gore of Erie; family friend, Eugene Shaw of Monessen; and a host of grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Besides cherishing and preserving moments of her grandchildren with her infamous disposable cameras, Marlene was an avid bingo, lottery, slot machine and “scratchy” player, which she enjoyed with her close and dear friends, Ronnie Windom, Faith “Dizzy” Marsh, Wendy Haywood and Lareese “Reese” Manos. Friends will be received on Friday from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm in the DALFONSO-BILLICK FUNERAL HOME INC. AND CREMATION SERVICES, 441 Reed Ave., Monessen. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Wayman Quinn AME Chapel, 697 Reed Ave., Monessen, with the Rev. Terry Johnson officiating and Eulogy by the  Rev. Geoffrey Tate. Interment will follow in the Belle Vernon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Marlene’s memory can be made to Newark YMCA, 600 Broad St., Newark, NJ 07102 or online at https://donate.newarkymca.org/2019ASC. Condolences accepted for the family at www.dalfonso-billick.com.