Marcella Lee Fuqua

Marcella Lee Fuqua, of Essex Junction, Vermont, who experienced 88+ years of life passed away on March 11, 2023 at the McClure-Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vermont. She was born on November 10, 1934 at home in Susanville, California to William T. and Amelia R. Mitchell.
At a young age she spent many hours in her Grandmother's Flower Shop getting in everyone's way and eventually working there. This was the start of her artistic skills that she would accumulate during her lifetime, which included floral arranging, sewing, knitting, and rug weaving. She also loved to sing where she lettered in Chorus in High School, performed a solo at her sister's Wedding, and she once was asked to join a Church Choir as she was out singing the choir from the congregation.
After graduating from Lassen Union High school 1952, Marcie enrolled at the Highland School of Nursing in Oakland, graduating in 1955. While at Highland she continued her love of singing with the Highland Chorus. Also while attending Highland she met Robert R. Fuqua, an Electrical Engineering Student at the University of California at Berkeley, while attending the First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley. Marcie graduated from the Highland School of Nursing in August 1955 and she went to work as a night nurse in charge of isolation wards. Robert graduated from U.C. Berkeley in January 1957, was hired by International Business Machines as a Production Test Engineer in San Jose. Marcella and Robert were married on February 2, 1957 and they moved to San Jose.
While in San Jose, Marcie and Bob were busy with work, church, and were very active with a Square Dance Club. After receiving numerous comments regarding their Square Dance attire that Marcie had sewn; she started one of her first businesses, "Fashions by Marcella", where she created custom matching Square Dance attire for couples. Even with all that they were involved with Marcie and Bob started to add their own branch to the family tree; Robert M. Fuqua was born on 10/25/1957 and was called back to the Heavenly Father's side on 10/26/1957; David W. Fuqua was born on 11/27/1958; and Christine V. Fuqua was born on 11/7/1960.
Marcie longed to be back in or near the mountains and convinced Bob to request a transfer to I.B.M.'s Boulder, Colorado Plant. To their dismay there were no openings available in Boulder; Bob's manager asked why he wanted to transfer and he confessed that he was asking because Marcie wanted to get back to the mountains. Well this wise man asked Bob if he would consider Vermont; and Bob's first question was, which State is Vermont in? After a quick geography lesson and an all expense paid trip for Marcie and Bob to visit I.B.M. 's small Essex Junction plant; their move to Vermont began in 1965.
From 1965 to 1968; Marcie focused on raising the kids and taking family trips around New England. She also did a stint working for Sears & Roebuck part time in sales. In 1968, they purchased a farm in Westford and started raising horses and cows. When not in school, Marcie kept the kids busy with chores, getting them started with riding lessons, 4H, Scouting, etc. She did not just drop the kids off and leave, she also got involved with the projects and as a leader when needed. In 1972, Marcie and Bob moved the family about a mile and half away in Underhill to a slightly smaller farm. Bob was sold on the bigger barn, the house needed some work that he was convinced he could take care of, and they were no longer on a two lane highway. Life on the new farm was pretty much the same; more cows, more horses, and even a couple of pigs at one point. Marcie kept the kids busy as before, however there were new groups and schools to settle in with. Traveling around to local horse shows with the kids to show a few of the horses. Marcie also made sure her kids could swim, once school ended for summer break, the kids were enrolled in multiple swim classes at various lakes and ponds around Chittenden County and she volunteered her time instructing others who were just beginning to swim. When the kids entered High School and College, she was always there to assist spending late nights typing papers on her manual typewriter.
In 1975, Marcie traveled with her dad, mom, and sister to visit the country of her dad's birth, Ireland. While in Ireland she enjoyed visiting with relatives and the beautiful country. She also experienced a bit of the tensions going on at that time between England and Ireland when they were stopped and searched by the authorities at the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. The trip also brought out a wee bit of her mischievous side as she smuggled a cutting of Irish Ivy out of Ireland back to the United States.
Unfortunately, as the kids were getting older and were away at school; taking care of the many large animals was too much for Marcie and Bob. The animals were sold over a few years and the barn was used by a local farmer for milking cows and hay storage. However, Marcie did not slow down; she took a job working for a local Singer Sewing Machine Store selling sewing machines and providing customers assistance with their use. Marcie eventually purchased the St. Albans Store franchise that was located in the Ben Franklin Store near the fabric department. Marcie's Sewing Center was created; she sold sewing machines, a vacuum cleaner now and then, provided instruction on the use of the sewing machines, and ran a few classes on garment and quilt making. Marcie even convinced Bob to take on sewing machine repair as a side job. While being a Singer franchise, Marcie and Bob took the opportunity to attend a Singer function that was being held in Bermuda. They stayed a bit longer as it was the first time that they had vacationed together in a long time. Due to circumstances beyond Marcie's control; the Ben Franklin Store closed including her sales area. She moved the business home and provided repair services for many of the schools in the area. As school budgets became tighter, their sewing machines repair services were no longer necessary and the business ended a few years after the Ben Franklin Store closed.
As the sewing business was winding down, Marcie spent time working with Bob on the renovations to the farm house that had been ongoing since 1972. She also continued with her sewing of clothes for the family, quilting and took up additional hobbies such as; hooking rugs, cross-stitch, and Toll painting.
In 1982, David announced to the family that they would become parents-n-law in July of 1983 and Marcie's offer to put together the Wedding dress was accepted by Helen M. Ashby. In 1986 Chris announced to the family that she was engaged to Kevin Norton and that they would be parents-n-law in January of 1987. Marcie was asked to sew the Bride's Maid dresses, which she was more than happy to do.
In June 1988, Marcie was blessed with her first grandchild, Olivia G. Norton. In July 1989, her second grandchild arrived, William R.A. Fuqua. And in August 1991 her third grandchild arrived, Mitchell R. Norton. Marcie loved and doted over all her grandchildren, never missing an opportunity to spoil them or have them stay out at the farm. If the timing was right, she even took the grandkids to swimming lessons in the summer.
In October of 2005, she lost the love of her life Robert R. Fuqua. Marcie was planning on staying at the farm for a year or more to go through all the memories that had been collected over the years and to see that the house renovations were completed. However life had a different plan, in November 2005 as she was returning from a visit with Chris in Syracuse, NY she had an automobile accident that changed her plans. As part of the exam in the hospital, they found something suspicious in the area of her Thyroid. It had nothing to do with the accident, but the Thyroid had to be removed. Marcie was convinced that allowing the accident to happen was a blessing as she would not have known about the Thyroid issue until it may have been too late to do anything about it. The removal of the Thyroid did come with a cost, her singing voice was gone as well.
Marcie spent 2006 in the hospital for reconstructive surgeries on her wrist and ankle, in rehab centers relearning to get around on her own, and staying with Dave and Helen as she could not be at the farm alone while recovering. This did not slow her down as she had things to be done. So as a Captain runs the ship; she took the helm and decided to sell the farm. Under her direction, the family working with a realtor, found a contractor to finish the house renovations and sell the house. Family also looked at a few houses and provided her with photos to look at while she was laid up. Marcie decided on a house based on photos only from the hospital after one of her reconstructive surgeries; an offer was made and accepted. An offer was made on the farm as well, which was also accepted. Family and friends rallied around to pack up and get the farm ready for the new owners and arrange moving her furniture and belongings to her new house in Essex Junction. In the midst of all that was going on Marcie insisted on attending Olivia's high school graduation.
In 2007, Marcie continued to rehab herself and oversee the redecorating of the new house. There were trips to see family in New York and she attended William's high school graduation. After graduation, she was able to convince William to escort her on a trip to Oregon and Texas to visit her brother and sister.
Following 2007, Marcie led a fairly quiet life, she was able to get around on her own to putter around town and the occasional trip to see family in New York. Marcie loved Christmas, decorating for the season, Hallmark Christmas ornaments, and the Hallmark channel on television. She would start decorating after Thanksgiving and finish shortly before Christmas; she would then open up her house to friends and neighbors to come in and view the displays she had throughout the house. For a couple of those years she had seven fully decorated trees of various sizes. At the end of each season she would carefully repackage each ornament and box them up. She would include an itemized list with what was in the box and where the ornaments were last displayed. This Christmas routine started in 2008 and she continued doing so for the next ten or more years.
She was always proud of her grandchildren and continued to dote on them and their achievements. In 2009 she attended Mitchell's high school graduation and William's B.S.A. Eagle Court of Honor.
In 2011 Marcie was diagnosed with General Myasthenia Gravis, a rare condition that is caused by a breakdown in the communication between the nerves and muscles. Various treatments helped treat the symptoms, however there is no cure and she struggled with it till the end. She would not let the condition hold her back, in 2012 she attended William's graduation from Rochester Institute of Technology. 2013 saw her back in Syracuse to attend Oivia's graduation from S.U.N.Y. Cortland.
In April of 2014, she and Helen attended Olivia's Bridal shower in New York. In May she traveled to Oregon, with David's assistance, to attend her mom's 100th birthday and visit with all the family that had gathered. And in June she attended the wedding of Olivia Norton to Jeff Smith in Lyncourt, NY.
In September 2016, William announced that he was engaged to Vittoria Buerschaper with the wedding to be in the following year in Grafton, Massachusetts. In October, Marcie was visited by her brother and sister and four of the six nieces and nephews; including her children and families, and a good time was had by all. In September 2017, Marcie traveled with family down to Grafton, MA to attend William and Tori's wedding.
In November 2018 Marcie had a few health issues that kept her in and out of the hospital or rehabilitation facilities from the end of November until the end of March 2019. In April of 2019 she was blessed with her first great grandchild, Emma J. Smith; the news and photos brought her much joy. Marcie was back in and out of the hospital or rehabilitation facilities From December 2019 until late October 2020. In December 2020 she was blessed with her second great grandchild, Ariel E. Smith, she again experienced joy and happiness. In mid March 2021 was back in the Hospital/Rehab until mid April 2021. In March of 2022 she was blessed with her third great grandchild, Lucian R. Fuqua, she again experienced joy and happiness. All of the great grandchildren were able to visit Marcie at her home where she was able to dote on them as a Great Grandmother should.
In October of 2022 Marcie was again admitted to the hospital then spent three months in rehab. She was back to the hospital from rehab in February 2023 where on March 9, 2023 she had decided enough was enough and refused any further treatment. Marcie was transferred to the McClure-Miller Respite house, where she began the next stage of her journey on the morning of the 11th to be with Bob, her maker and her family and pets that preceded her. Vaya-con-Dios Mum, may you find peace and your beautiful voice along the way.
Marcella leaves her son David Fuqua and his wife Helen Fuqua; her daughter Christine Norton and her Husband Kevin Norton; her Brother William Mitchell; her sister Donna Murray; her grandchildren, Olivia Smith, William Fuqua, and Mitchell Norton; her great grandchildren, Emma Smith, Ariel Smith, and Lucian Fuqua; and her nieces and nephews and their families; Marcella loved them all.
The family would like to thank the Nurses, Care Providers, and Support Staff at Green Mountain Nursing Home for taking care of Marcie during the last three years. We would also like to thank all of Marcie's Primary Care and Specialist Doctors and their Staff for their services; please keep doing what you do, you were all great. Thanks to Griswold Home Care and all the Care Providers that took care of Marcie and her home, with special thanks to Logan who took care of Marcie during 2021 and 2022 when she was at home, you're the best. And to the McClure-Miller Respite House, we cannot put into words our gratitude for the services you provide, thank you for helping Marcie transition to a better place.
There will be a Memorial Service on Saturday April 15, 2023 for family and few close friends at the Jericho Congregational Church. An Interment will be held at the Jericho Center Cemetery following the Memorial Service if weather and/or ground conditions allow. A celebration of Marcie's life will be held in the Church's Fellowship Hall beginning at 2:00 p.m.. Please join us and bring along your favorite memory or story of Marcie.
In lieu of flowers please make a Memorial contribution in Marcie's memory to your local Humane Society.
The family also invites you to share your memories and condolences by visiting www.awrfh.com.