Marcia Ellen Graves

1942 - 2023

Marcia Ellen Graves

Aug. 1, 1942 - April 7, 2023

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - On Good Friday, April 7, 2023, Marcia Ellen Graves (nee Lance) passed away after an 11 year battle with Vascular Dementia. She was at home with her husband and daughter at her side. She was 80 years old.

Born in Altadena, CA, on August 1, 1942, Marcia was the oldest of three daughters of F.E. "Gene" and Mary Elizabeth Lance (nee Gaar). After a cross-country journey that consumed most of her elementary school years, her family settled near Stoughton, WI, where she attended Stoughton High School and was a member of the well-known Norwegian Folk Dancers. She excelled in school and participated in most student programs including playing the trombone in band and cheerleading.

Marcia graduated from the University of Wisconsin, with a degree in English. There, she met her future husband, David Graves. During her college years, Marcia participated in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship as a brand new, born-again Christian.

David and Marcia were married in Madison, WI, on June 12, 1964, at Faith Baptist Church (now Monona Oaks Community Church) and were married 58 years. They settled in the Minnetonka, MN, where they lived for 26 years and raised their son, Michael and daughter, Carolyn. Skiing and camping trips to the mountains in the US and Canada was a family favorite. In 1991, they moved to Lakewood, CO, to be closer to the mountains.

Marcia thrived on family, she loved cooking, crafts, cross-stitch projects, knitting, stamping, singing, tennis, downhill skiing, reading, and hiking. Photography was her specialty; mountains, flowers, animals, and birds which she turned into beautiful greeting cards. Cocker Spaniels were Marcia's favorite. She always owned them in pairs and loved grooming and training them.

Marcia served as a leader in many organizations, MOPS, Christian Women's Club, and bible studies.

Marcia's battle with dementia lasted more than 11 years. She is survived by her husband, David Graves of Colorado Springs, CO; her children: Michael (Jennifer) Graves of Chaska, MN, and Carolyn (Kristi) Graves of Colorado Springs, CO; her sisters: Marilyn (Roger) Stauter of Sun Prairie, WI, and Margo (Brian) Fieseler of Oconomowoc, WI; her nieces: Emily (Shane) Lyons, Rebecca (James) Hansen, and Tori (Matthew) Fieseler; her nephew: Timothy (Donna) Oman; and her six grandchildren: Jackson, Hunter, Logan, Emma, Sawyer, and Wyatt Graves.

A Celebration of Life service is planned for 2:00 PM on Monday, April 17, 2023, at the Door Creek Church Chapel located at 6602 Dominion Dr., Madison, WI, 53718.