Marcia Kay Williams

1940 - 2021

Marcia Kay Williams of St. Joseph passed away May 31, 2021, after battling cancer.

Marcia Kay Wible was born on May 2, 1940, in Muskegon, the second child of Harold and Dorothy Wible. They promptly relocated to Fort Wayne, Ind., where Marcia graduated from North Side High School in 1958.

Her youth was a classic Midwest childhood of family and school activities: piano, church, Scouts, her newspaper route, school band, Job's Daughters, time at the family cottage, boyfriends, girlfriends and bobby socks.

Competent at anything, Marcia received a key to the city from Fort Wayne's mayor for reviving an electrocuted neighbor boy while babysitting. With four teasing brothers and lots of cousins, she was able to take care of herself in any situation. Marcia used her sweet personality to negotiate life in every case.

Her life's joy, enthusiasm and positive attitude carried her to Ball State University, where she met Darl Williams during her second week at college. They dated steadily over the next four years, including times when Marcia was required to live out of town as part of her nursing curriculum.

Marcia received a B.S. in nursing in 1962, and soon after, Marcia and Darl got engaged. In the spring of 1963, they were married in Fort Wayne. Travel, friendship, joy and laughter have been with them since they met. After a short time in Northwest Indiana, Marcia and Darl relocated to Stevensville. They celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on April 6.

They had three loving children: Andrew (fiancée Kristin) of Stevensville; Matthew (Lise) of Grand Rapids; and Ellen Whiteman (Chuck) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Throughout her career, Marcia enjoyed various nursing positions. She and some of her nursing classmates began their careers at hospitals on the north side of Chicago. She then transitioned to various positions at Memorial Hospital in St. Joseph, medical sales representative for hospital supplies in Miami, public health nurse at Growth Innovations, medical placements at Beacon Services, and Area Agency on Aging nurse coordinator, all in St. Joseph.

Marcia has been a longtime member and volunteer at Stevensville United Methodist Church and Boynton Beach (Fla.) United Methodist Church. She also enjoyed volunteering at Silver Beach Carousel. Marcia was a true disciple of Jesus who lived her faith daily and lived her life well – not without serious illness, but in spite of it.

Marcia is survived by her loving husband, Darl; her children; and 10 grandchildren, Nicholas (Madison) of Philadelphia, Madeleine, Isabelle, Camden, Claire, Gracen and Emerson Williams, all of Michigan; and Audrey, Brooke and Charlie (Whiteman) of Florida. Each is special to her, and they all will miss her loving presence that holds the family together.

Marcia is also survived by her brothers, Lyman (Lyn) Wible of Madison, Wis., Dennis (Bonnie) Wible of Muncie, Ind., and Dan (Suzanne) Wible of Wheaton, Ill.; sister-in-law, Charlotte Wible of Carmel, Ind.; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. Marcia was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Larry; and beloved in-laws.

Marcia and Darl enjoyed their retirement years as snowbirds in Boynton Beach, Fla., alongside her brothers and sisters-in-law.

The family extends its special thanks to the team who cared for her from Caring Circle Hospice.

A celebration of life gathering will be from 5-7 p.m., Friday, June 4, 2021, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private funeral service will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions can be made to Stevensville United Methodist Church, 5506 Ridge Road, Stevensville; or Berrien County Cancer Services, 3900 Hollywood Road, St. Joseph.

To leave an online condolence, visit www.starks-menchinger.com.