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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Marian Lydia Wilcox
Marian Lydia
Wilcox
Jul 12, 1914 — Mar 29, 2016
Marian Lydia Wilcox's Obituary
The Celebration of Life for Marian Lydia (Kurtz) Wilcox, 101, will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Fairview, OK. Interment will follow at the Roscoe Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Fairview Funeral Home where visitation will be Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Marian died peacefully of natural causes in Florida on March 29, 2016. Her life, which was forever filled with youthful vitality, began July 12, 1914 on Kelly's Island, OH. In 1923 she moved to Alpena, MI with her parents Robert and Lydia Kurtz, her two sisters and three brothers. After graduating from Alpena H.S. and working for a few years, she earned a BA Degree with Honors from Albion College in MI, where she was a member of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority and the debate team. She obtained her Elementary Ed. Degree and taught several years before beginning her many overseas adventures by serving as one of five American Red Cross personnel stationed in England and Garche, France from 1943-1945. After meeting her husband Raymond A. Wilcox in England where he was a Major in the U.S. Army, they were married in Paris on July 12, 1945 before honeymooning in the Loire Valley and Cannes.
Marian and Ray settled permanently in OK in 1959, first in Seiling and then Fairview. Marian taught at both Progressive and Fairview before retiring in 1979. While in Seiling she was a PTA member (serving the School as a volunteer and chaperone), the Methodist Church, and the Music Lovers' Club. In Fairview she was a member of the Methodist Church (and of UMW), a founding member of Keenagers, and Librarian of Circle Mary. She was a member of the PTA, the Fairview Friends of Library Assn. and its Board, and an officer of the Retired Teachers' Assn. She was also a volunteer at the Fairview Hospital and for Meals-On-Wheels. She spent many hours selecting books for the UMW reading club and visiting shut-ins delivering holiday gifts and greetings.
In 2009 (after Ray's death and 64 years of marriage) Marian moved to NM to live with her daughter, and husband, Suzanne and Leon for five years. She enjoyed the mountains, sunsets, and art and cultural events (particularly the lavender festival) before relocating to Florida. Marian loved to travel and did so extensively for many years. She was very fond of music and interested in current events and reading. She was a gracious, gentle lady whose zest for learning, enthusiasm for life, and ability to always see the best in people endeared her to everyone she met.
Marian was a wonderful mother and adored by her family. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her beautiful and joyful spirit will remain forever in the hearts of her three daughters and their husbands (Nancy and George Brown Sr. of FL; Suzanne and Leon Scott of NM; and Judith and William Knight of CO), her five grandchildren and their families, and her four great grandchildren. She will be dearly remembered by her surviving sibling, Donald Kurtz of MI; and her sister-in-law, Bridget Kurtz of TN; her nephew and his wife, C.A. and Dian Nichols of Fairview, OK; and many other nieces, nephews, and friends.
In memory of this special woman the family requests that tokens of love and friendship be made through remembrances to the Fairview Public Library (Children's Section), or the Roscoe Cemetery with the Fairview Funeral Home, Inc. (222 N. Main St., Fairview, OK 73737) acting as custodian of the funds.
Marian died peacefully of natural causes in Florida on March 29, 2016. Her life, which was forever filled with youthful vitality, began July 12, 1914 on Kelly's Island, OH. In 1923 she moved to Alpena, MI with her parents Robert and Lydia Kurtz, her two sisters and three brothers. After graduating from Alpena H.S. and working for a few years, she earned a BA Degree with Honors from Albion College in MI, where she was a member of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority and the debate team. She obtained her Elementary Ed. Degree and taught several years before beginning her many overseas adventures by serving as one of five American Red Cross personnel stationed in England and Garche, France from 1943-1945. After meeting her husband Raymond A. Wilcox in England where he was a Major in the U.S. Army, they were married in Paris on July 12, 1945 before honeymooning in the Loire Valley and Cannes.
Marian and Ray settled permanently in OK in 1959, first in Seiling and then Fairview. Marian taught at both Progressive and Fairview before retiring in 1979. While in Seiling she was a PTA member (serving the School as a volunteer and chaperone), the Methodist Church, and the Music Lovers' Club. In Fairview she was a member of the Methodist Church (and of UMW), a founding member of Keenagers, and Librarian of Circle Mary. She was a member of the PTA, the Fairview Friends of Library Assn. and its Board, and an officer of the Retired Teachers' Assn. She was also a volunteer at the Fairview Hospital and for Meals-On-Wheels. She spent many hours selecting books for the UMW reading club and visiting shut-ins delivering holiday gifts and greetings.
In 2009 (after Ray's death and 64 years of marriage) Marian moved to NM to live with her daughter, and husband, Suzanne and Leon for five years. She enjoyed the mountains, sunsets, and art and cultural events (particularly the lavender festival) before relocating to Florida. Marian loved to travel and did so extensively for many years. She was very fond of music and interested in current events and reading. She was a gracious, gentle lady whose zest for learning, enthusiasm for life, and ability to always see the best in people endeared her to everyone she met.
Marian was a wonderful mother and adored by her family. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her beautiful and joyful spirit will remain forever in the hearts of her three daughters and their husbands (Nancy and George Brown Sr. of FL; Suzanne and Leon Scott of NM; and Judith and William Knight of CO), her five grandchildren and their families, and her four great grandchildren. She will be dearly remembered by her surviving sibling, Donald Kurtz of MI; and her sister-in-law, Bridget Kurtz of TN; her nephew and his wife, C.A. and Dian Nichols of Fairview, OK; and many other nieces, nephews, and friends.
In memory of this special woman the family requests that tokens of love and friendship be made through remembrances to the Fairview Public Library (Children's Section), or the Roscoe Cemetery with the Fairview Funeral Home, Inc. (222 N. Main St., Fairview, OK 73737) acting as custodian of the funds.
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
Funeral Services for Marian Lydia Wilcox
Funeral Service
April
9
Saturday
First United Methodist Church
1:30 - 3:00 pm
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