Oct 15
Imperial state funeral set for Garry McLain
BAR Staff READ TIME: 1 MIN.
The Imperial Council of San Francisco has announced plans for the state funeral of Garry McLain, also known as Empress XXV Marlena. Mr. McLain died October 5. He was 85.
An announcement October 9 stated that an Imperial state funeral will be held Saturday, November 8, at noon at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1111 O’Farrell Street in San Francisco. Immediately following the service, a celebration of life honoring Marlena will take place at 2 p.m. outside of her former bar at 488 Hayes Street.
There will be special appearances by Empress Galilea hosting the return of the Hayes Street Follies starting at 2:30 p.m. That will be followed by a performance of SF Imperial Monarchs at 3:30 hosted by John Carrillo, a gay man who was Emperor XXVIII, and Empress Misty Blue.
The announcement noted that a block of hotel rooms has been set aside for that weekend (Friday-Monday) at the Hyatt Regency Downtown SOMA, 50 Third Street. For more information, call 415-974-6400. The code is G-IMC1.
Marlena was crowned Empress XXV in 1990 and reigned with Emperor Simeon. San Diego resident Nicole Murray Ramirez, who holds the title of Queen Mother I of the Americas, Canada, U.S.A., and Mexico, designated Marlena as Queen Mother I of California.
To read the Bay Area Reporter’s obituary on Mr. McLain, click here.
