Mrs. Marcia Jeanne Irwin's Obituary
Marcia Jeanne Irwin, age 93, entered the presence of her Lord on September 23, 2017. Marcia was born in Mount Morris, Michigan on March 27, 1924 to George and Juanita (Cuvrell) Blackford who were both college graduates – unusual for that era. At an early age her family moved to Flushing, Michigan where her father built a home of fieldstone from the family farm he started there. She attended Flushing High School and General Motor’s Technical College until being offered a great job at GM’s AC Spark Plug in Flint. She then did her part for the war effort when she worked in Washington DC at the Pentagon in the typing pool for General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Marcia met Raymond Louis Irwin before he served his country in the US Army’s European Theater. The two kept up a letter-writing romance during the war and were married on June 29, 1946 in Muskegon where they made their home. After her 3rd child was born, she returned to college earning a Masters Degree in Education. She was a teacher for Muskegon Public Schools for over 25 years teaching 2nd & 3rd grades at McLaughlin, Froeble, Angel, & Moon schools. She was a long-time member of the Alpha Kappa Chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International for Women Educators. She was an accomplished artist in many mediums, especially porcelains and china painting - a talent she inherited from her mother that was also passed on to a niece. Her sister says she was the smartest one of her siblings and had a real love of learning. She also very much enjoyed doing her crossword puzzles and, before his death in 2010, she loved to travel with her husband in their RV – living in the Sunshine RV Park in Brownsville, Texas during many winters after they retired where she volunteered at local schools. She was an active member of the Orchard View Congregational Church, volunteering in many capacities before the fog of dementia took its toll. She is survived by her brother, Richard (Marjorie) Blackford; by her sister, Marilyn Glanton; by her three children whom she dearly loved, Barbara (John) Usmial of North Muskegon, Rae Jeannot-Davis of Whitehall, and Thomas Irwin of Muskegon; by her 8 grandchildren whom she enjoyed immensely, Cori Johnson, Kendell (Gene) Altena, William Jeannot, Louis Jeannot, Molly (Tim) Olsen, Lee (Jessica) Usmial, Jenna Irwin, and Colin Irwin; by her 10 dear great-grandchildren – Hannah (Joel) Patricio, Sarah Bratsburg, Noah Mitchell, Luke Johnson, Zachary Altena, Nathaniel Altena, Nicholas Altena, Katelynn Usmial, Stanley Usmial and Leo Usmial; and by her 3 great grandchildren – Jace Burns, Peyton Mosher and Maci Patricio. Marcia was also preceded in death by her parents and her brother, George Blackford. She will be remembered by all as a loyal friend, a loving mother, and a very fun-loving “Granny”. A special heart-felt thank you to Becky Eldredge and Harbor Hospice who lovingly cared for her the last few days of her life! Marcia’s legacy will be celebrated with her family and friends at The Olivet Evangelical Free Church, 2175 Marquette Ave. Wednesday October 18th from 11AM – 1 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to The Olivet Evangelical Free Church or to Harbor Hospice.
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