Marianne Tarpenning Pemberton was born on November 25, 1928, in Blackwell, Oklahoma, and died in Austin, Texas, on September 8, 2012. Born to George E. and Waity E.Tarpenning, Marianne graduated from Blackwell High School in 1946 and from Northern Oklahoma Junior college in 1948. She married Joe Hochderffer in 1947, and her son, Kris Hochderffer, was born of that marriage. In 1957 she married Claude Mitchell Pemberton. They made their home on the farm just east of Blackwell across the old river bridge, where they lived together for 52 years, until Claude preceded her in death on December 4, 2009.

In addition to her work on the farm, from 1957 until 1973, Marianne was actively involved with her father in raising and training virtually thousands of greyhounds for various race tracks across the country, under the name of Blackwell Kennels. She truly loved working with her greyhounds and being an integral part of the family business.

Marianne is also preceded in death by her parents and by her sister, Ruby Jane Frazier.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Kris and Susan Hochderffer of Austin, Texas, her grandchildren, Lauren and Leon Reyes of Southlake, Texas, and by her great grandson, Micah Lee Reyes. Also surviving Marianne is her brother-in-law, James M. Frazier of Blackwell, her nephew, J. Merle Frazier of Aspen, Colorado, as well as numerous nieces and nephews in the Hochderffer and Pemberton families.

The family will inter her in the Mausoleum at the Blackwell cemetery at 1:30 pm on Friday, September 14, 2012. A Life Celebration for Marianne will follow at 3:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Tonkawa where Claude and Marianne were members throughout their marriage. Rev. Phil Irwin will preside.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in honor of her memory to First Presbyterian Church of Tonkawa, 4th and NOC, Tonkawa, OK 74653 or the charity of their choice.