Mariana Andrews-Stoner passed away peacefully at Plumas District Hospital on Jan. 3, 2024, with
loved ones by her side. She was 69.
Mariana was born on Guam on June 17, 1954, to Patricia (née Nelson) and John Francis Andrews, who
served in the U.S. Navy. She was the fourth of seven children. She grew up in Pleasanton, California, and graduated from Amador High School in 1972.
In her early TWENTIES, she worked as a horse groom at Golden Gate Fields and the now-closed Bay Meadows racetrack. Through this job, she met Richard Krikorian, the father of her two daughters – Tammy and Marina.
In 1984, Mariana married Earl Edward “Stony” Stoner. The following summer the couple relocated with
the girls from the Bay Area to Quincy, where she lived the rest of her life. For a time, she ran the local office of the State Board of Equalization and later worked many years for Ken Barnard supporting his tax clients and the Plumas County Board of Realtors.
Mariana lived with chronic back pain for most of her life, which impaired her ability to enjoy many of the activities she loved and resulted in her early departure from the workforce. After recovering from the heartbreak of losing Stony to pancreatic cancer in 2002, Mariana met John Poston. The two built a home together and remained dedicated to one another for more than 20 years. A highlight of her later years was a cross-country road trip they enjoyed together, driving with their four-legged companion east to South Carolina and north, with stops in Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania – an adventure that created many enduring memories.
Over the years, Mariana’s hobbies included photography, gardening, and cooking. She loved her San
Francisco 49ers, rooting for them right up until her final days despite the team disappointing her with a loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas day. She enjoyed watching classic movies and cooking shows and was a fan of tennis, horse racing, and gymnastics.
Mariana is survived by her partner of the past two decades, John Poston of Quincy; daughters Tammy
Krikorian Gabel of Mesa, Arizona, and Marina Krikorian of Doha, Qatar; sons-in-law Chris Gabel and
Miguel Aldaco; grandchildren Lila Gabel, Quin Gabel, Ysela Aldakian and Mikayel Aldakian; sister Judy
Andrews of Quincy; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents,
Patricia and John Frances Andrews; husband Earl Edward “Stony” Stoner; siblings Anne Bonham, Kathy Ahuero, Michael Andrews, John Andrews II and Patrick James Andrews; and brother-in-law David Ahuero.
Throughout her life, Mariana generously donated to causes she cared about. In lieu of flowers, please
consider a donation in her memory to the Plumas County Museum Association or the Arbor Day
Foundation.