Marsha Planting

On the evening of Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Marsha Planting died in the presence of her daughters and husband. Marsha was generous, smart, funny, beautiful, compassionate, devoted to her family, and loved her friends.

Marsha is survived by Charles Scott, her husband of fifty years; daughter Mercer Fannon and husband Francis, and their children, Madeline, Charlotte, and Margaret Phoebe; daughter Hadley Powell and her husband Alexander, and their children Garrett and Aster; sisters Debbe Lopez-Balboa; Catherine Frank and her husband Neil; Belle Gutschick and her husband Scott; and brother Clyde and his wife Diane; and many nieces and nephews.

Marsha was born June 4, 1950, in Bethesda, Maryland, the daughter of Marshall and Margaret Garrett. She grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland and attended Beauvoir School and graduated from National Cathedral School in 1968. After high school, Marsha graduated from Pine Manor Junior College and Mt. Holyoke College. Marsha married Scott on June 7, 1975, at the Washington National Cathedral and they moved to Farmington, Maine where they lived for thirty-five years, and raised their family in a strong and supportive community. Alongside business partners who became friends, Marsha built two successful downtown businesses: The Calico Patch, a lovely gift shop; and Devaney, Doak, and Garrett Booksellers, a bookstore which is still operational today. Marsha also served on the Farmington Planning Board and Gould Academy's Board of Trustees in Bethel, Maine. She was active in the life of Fairbanks Union Church and had many friends throughout the community.

In 2010 Marsha and Scott moved to Northeast Harbor, Maine, where she was on the Vestry of St. Mary's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church and the Board of the Northeast Harbor Library. As in Farmington, Marsha's home in Northeast Harbor was graced by beautiful gardens. Marsha created a lovely home where her children and grandchildren spent summers. She was an accomplished cook and host. With her grandchildren, Marsha delighted in exploring tidal pools, making blueberry pancake breakfasts, and hiking on trails in Acadia National Park.

Three years ago, diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Marsha moved to Silverado Memory Care Community in Alexandria, Virginia, near her daughter Mercer. All the strength of character she possessed in good health was apparent by the kindness she showed to her memory care neighbors and the caregivers who loved her. Marsha brought fun to Silverado with dance parties, jokes, and wisecracks. She was active and engaged in her community until the end of her life. Marsha's family is deeply grateful to the caregivers and staff at Silverado, and the doctors, nurses, and techs at Virginia Hospital Center for the care and support they gave Marsha.

Marsha gave us so much. She made us laugh. She was honest and saw the world so clearly. She was our mother and grandmother, sister and aunt, our best friend. If you would like to remember Marsha with a gift, in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Land and Garden Preserve, https://www.gardenpreserve.org/donate or the Bar Harbor Food Pantry, https://www.barharborfoodpantry.org/give-food-1

A funeral service is planned for Friday, September 19, 2025, 2:00pm, at Bethlehem Chapel, Washington National Cathedral, followed by a reception at Columbia Country Club, Chevy Chase, Maryland. A second memorial service is planned in Northeast Harbor, Maine on October 18, 2025, at 1:00pm at St. Mary's by-the-Sea.