Marcia K. (Garrison) Anderson

SHREWSBURY - Marcia K. (Garrison) Anderson, a long-time resident of Shrewsbury, died Tuesday, February 11, 2025, after a long illness. She was 81.

 Born in Spencer, MA on October 23, 1943, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Frank and Blanche (Gardner) Garrison. Marcia grew up in Spencer graduating from David Prouty High School in 1961.

She met her husband at the former State Mutual Life Insurance Company in Worcester. After a two-year romantic courtship…it was love at first sight, they were married at Grace Episcopal Church in Oxford on June 5, 1965, by The Rev. William M. Dunning, a long-time school friend of her husband. Before they were married, Marcia was received and Ralph was confirmed on May 23, 1965, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Worcester by The Rev. Bradford Hastings, the Rector, and The Rt. Rev. Robert Hatch, Bishop of The Diocese of Western Massachusetts. They were married for 55 years until Ralph's death on May 31, 2020. Longtime residents of Shrewsbury they moved to Notre Dame du Lac Assisted Living in Worcester in 2019.

Marcia worked as typist in the Transcription Department and receptionist from June, 196l, until she was pregnant with her first son in in October 1968. She later returned to the evening shift in the secretarial pool. She later worked part-time for several reporters from the McCarthy Court Reporting Service. And when her sons were in high school, she worked for Admore in Shrewsbury and later at their Worcester location.

She then sought employment at UMass Hospital where she was hired as the secretary for an eight-bed unit of challenged and impaired children. When the unit was later closed, she worked for Dr. Russell Barkley, the head of the Attention Deficit Clinic, for whom she typed reports, administered grants, and tested children in the Worcester Public Schools for attention deficit disorders. In 1995, she had a stroke while working at the hospital, which resulted in her early retirement.

Marcia was a long-time member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Shrewsbury where for 20 years she taught Sunday school, was a member of the Thursday morning women's group and later was a lay reader and sang in the choir. She also was advisor with her husband to the High School Youth Group during which they made monthly trips to the Worcester State Hospital, annual weekend ski trips, for which they raised money through their annual paper drives, and occasional roller-skating trips to Mechanics Hall. She was also a delegate to The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts Annual Conventions for many years.

She loved to cook and was an avid reader of mystery novels, especially those authored by Stephen King, John Grisham, Harlen Coben and Nelson DeMille. She was also a long tine watcher of television shows like Law & Order, Criminal Minds and other such shows. She also enjoyed playing bridge for many years with her partner, Jean Doherty and with Marsha and Chuck until Jean passed away. She was also a den mother and enjoyed taking day trips when they were in cub scouts with Ted Coughlin.

Her husband of 55 years, Deacon Ralph W. Anderson, Jr. died May 31, 2020, and she was predeceased by her sister, Elaine E. Meloche

 She leaves her sons, Kurt G. Anderson and his wife, Molly of Shrewsbury and David E. Anderson of Fitchburg; her grandchildren, Gabriel Anderson, Sarah Yates and Zachary Anderson; her sister-in-law, Judy Lund of Sarasota, Florida; nieces & nephews; a cousin whom she considered her sister, June McCollom of Bondsville, MA. 

Family and friends are invited to honor and remember Marcia’s life by gathering for a Morning Wake on Monday, February 17th from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Church, 440 Main Street, Shrewsbury followed by her funeral service at 11:00 a.m. The Reverend Ann Scannell will officiate. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Abby's House, 52 High St., Worcester, MA 01609, Dismas House, P.O. Box 30125, Worcester, MA 01609 and Trinity Episcopal Church, 440 Main St., Shrewsbury.

Arrangements by James + John Heald of The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, Waltham.