Marcia Rae Williams Cross of Fairmont, WV, passed away unexpectedly on April 15, 2024, in Morgantown.
Born December 22, 1947, in Buckhannon, WV, to the late Claude Earl and Lula “Sue” Eileen Tallman Williams, Marcia grew up in a large, loving family. Although the family moved to Nitro, WV when she was young and traveled to see many places, no place ever quite matched up to the family home in Ten Mile, WV. Marcia was a bright child excelling in mathematics, graduating from Nitro High School.
She continued her education at Fairmont State College, graduating with a degree in mathematics. It was at Fairmont State that she met her soon-to-be husband, Albie, during a feisty volleyball match on campus. The two planted roots in Fairmont and began to build a life and eventually a family with their two children. Marcia loved her family unabashedly. Together, she and Albie enjoyed fifty years of marriage before he passed away in 2020.
Marcia was blessed to have witnessed her son Shawn (Shelby) and daughter Monica (Michael Kuhn) raise children of their own: Tyler Cross (Alex), Emily Cross (Robert Stauffer), Declan Falkenstein, and Lydia Falkenstein. Some of her fondest childhood memories involved her siblings: Jenelda (Dan) Puzzo, Sandra (Ed) Carney, Mark (Twila) Williams, and the late Claudia “Susan” (Pete) Petree. Later, her marriage to Albie extended that blessing of a loving family, several of whom sadly preceded her in death: father and mother-in-law Arthur and Dolly Cross and sister-in-law Linda Sloan. Surviving her are brother-in-law Ray Sloan and sister-in-law Ginny (Roger) Hart, whom she also dearly loved. Marica had many nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors, sorority sisters, and friends, with many of those relationships extending across multiple decades. She loved each and every one deeply.
Marcia taught math at Fairmont Catholic Grade School for twenty years. She loved teaching, but more than that, she loved her students and the other teachers and staff members she had the privilege of working beside. She enjoyed the simple things in life: time with family and friends, seeing new places, reading a good book, tackling a 1,000-piece puzzle, perfecting her green thumb, trying new foods, cooking at home, listening to music, relaxing to the sound of wind chimes and thunderstorms, playing in the snow with her grandchildren, swimming in the river, and sharing memories around the campfire with those she loved.
Marcia was kind, slow to anger, quick to embrace differences, and accepted people with an open heart. She gave generously and embodied unconditional love. Marcia wasn’t religious, but she had a strong, quiet faith. God was her steadying force, especially during the loss of her parents and husband. After being a caretaker for others for years, she was homebound herself in the last few years of her life. Although agoraphobia kept her boxed in her house for several years, she is now free from the fear and sickness that seemed to hold her captive.
On Saturday, she’ll finally return to the place she loved most on this earth, in Ten Mile, WV. Her remains will rest upon one of its tallest mountains, where the sky seems endless, and she will be nestled among loved ones who have gone before her. She will be laid to rest near the rippling waters, rhododendrons, cool breezes, and campfires that she so loved, where her family will continue to gather and make memories just like the ones she treasured.
Friends will be received Friday, April 19, 2024, from 1 PM to 8 PM at the Poling St. Clair Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held 1 PM on Saturday at the funeral home with Pastor Roy Schneider officiating. Burial will follow in the Ten Mile Baptist Church Cemetery in Ten Mile, WV.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
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