Marinah's first tattoo, "stay gold," was inspired both by the Robert Frost poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay" and the Adventure Club song "Gold."

 

Nothing Gold Can Stay
by Robert Frost, 1874 - 1963

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

Gold
Songwriters BRAMMER, MARTIN / ARGYLE, ADAM / CALLOU, LEIGHTON / ZARA AI, YUNALIS / SRIGLEY, CHRISTIAN

Only sunshine, under the bright sky.
Only sunshine, under the bright sky.
When the words are like bullets and they break through your skin,
And there's no way to get them all out.
When it feels like a rush seeping into your soul,
Stay gold [x3]
Under the bright sky. only sunshine.
Under the bright sky.
Stay gold [x6]
You were always searching, for something out there,
Out of reach, couldn't stop you, couldn't hold you back,
You were so real. so real.
When the words are like bullets and they break through your skin,
And there's no way to get them all out,
When it feels like a rush seeping into your soul,
Stay gold [x3]
Under the bright sky. only sunshine.
Under the bright sky. only sunshine.
Stay gold.

Published by
Lyrics © BMG PLATINUM SONGS, KOBALT MUSIC PUB AMERICA

Read more about the song "Gold."  

Marinah loved all animals and in particular, Callie, her cat of 12 years, and Chica, the tiny dog she adopted in May 2015. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks those who wish to honor Marinah send a donation to Fuzzy Bukkets Rescue (www.fuzzybukketsrescue.com).

Mail to:
Fuzzy Bukkets Rescue, Inc.
c/o Deborah Hastings
2105 Mound St.
Orange Park, Florida, 32073 

 

Born: October 1, 1996, Memorial Hospital, Jacksonville

Died: December 26, 2015, Atlantic Beach

Parents: Michael and Dinah VanHoose

Siblings: Nikayla (Kamie Davis) VanHoose and Samuel VanHoose

Preceded in death: grandfather, David de Souza Guedes, Illinois, and maternal grandmother, Veda (Miller) Laughlin, Indiana.

Education: Neptune Beach Elementary, Mayport Middle School, Fletcher High School, and Florida Virtual School.  Posthumously graduated from Marine Science Center.

Marinah Ruth VanHoose, 19, passed away in her sleep due to what we were initially told was a seizure, quietly leaving this world just several short hours after spending a happy Christmas with her close-knit family. Marinah will be remembered for her unique sense of humor, sweetness, ability to love others unconditionally, and head-turning physical beauty.

Marinah was born to Michael and Dinah (de Souza Guedes) VanHoose on October 1, 1996, and left us to shine in a starring role in heaven on December 26, 2015.

Marinah lived most of her life in the Jacksonville area. Her interests and talents were varied; her favorite classes were choir, drama, band, and English (writing and literature). She had expressed dreams of becoming an actress for as long as her family can remember. She loved to smile and was ecstatic when her braces were removed two months ago. Always leggy and tall for her age, Marinah grew to 6’4”. Her stunning beauty and big smile often caused heads to turn. She had considered modeling and did a fashion photo shoot for an online magazine.

Babysitting was Marinah’s first paid job; she was good with children and many adored her. At 16, she began working as a bagger at the Commissary in Mayport. She was a hostess and server at Denny’s and Olive Garden.

She was loving, fiercely loyal, and gave people the benefit of the doubt -- even when they didn’t deserve it. She never lost her sense of humor or her caring ways.

She loved animals in particular, Callie, her cat of 12 years, and Chica, her dog. Her love of animals led her to become a vegetarian more than three years ago.

The family is comforted by the outpouring of love for Marinah. The thoughtful, generous, and caring acts by so many are a tribute to the impact made by Marinah’s short life. 

Please honor Marinah by sharing your memories of her with all of us.