Joan Macker, a cherished matriarch and dedicated homemaker, was born on April 19, 1940, in Cardwell, Missouri. She departed this life on November 14, 2025, at AdventHealth Lake Wales, leaving behind a legacy of love and warmth that will forever be felt by her family and community.
Joan was raised in Leachville, Arkansas by her parents, Aaron and Sylvia Taylor. In 1965, she relocated to Lake Wales from Chicago, Illinois, where she continued to cultivate her passions and create a loving home for her family.
With unwavering dedication, Joan balanced the roles of mother and homemaker, ensuring that her household was a sanctuary filled with laughter, love, and cherished memories. Joan found joy in the many simple pleasures of life, particularly through her fondness for collecting tea sets and the precious moments spent with her family. Her love for gathering around the table, sharing stories, and nurturing connections was reflected in the joyful chaos of family gatherings.
Joan is survived by her loving daughters, Jo Babington and her husband Bill, Jeri Anne Marten, Lisa Messer and her husband Brian, Karen Cedro and her husband Paul, and Charissa Hoerner and her husband Matt; her sons, Ricky Brandon and his wife Cheryl, and Mick Brandon; as well as her sister Judy Mangrum; and brother Donald Taylor; 24 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband John Macker; her daughter Jeanette Stewart; as well as her brothers Charles and Jerry Taylor; her sister Phyllis Taylor; her grandson Jason Babington; and her parents, Aaron and Sylvia Taylor, also await her in the embrace of everlasting remembrance.
Services will be scheduled at a later date. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.marionnelsonfuneralhome.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
454 S Buck Moore Rd, Lake Wales, FL 33853
Memories and condolences can be left on the obituary at the funeral home website.


What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read more
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read moreIf you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more