Marcia Ellen Witt

VENICE - Our kind, loving, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, Marcia Ellen Wilson Marshall Witt, 99, died July 10, 2009, at her daughter's home in Grand Junction, Colo. She was born Dec. 19, 1909, in Colonia Morelos, Sonora, Mexico, a daughter of David Johnson and Miriam Adella Cox Wilson. Both her grandfathers served in the Mormon Battalion. Her father, at the age of 12 in 1855, walked barefoot, herding cows across the plains. While still a young, single man he rode for the Pony Express between Monroe and Cove Fort. Her father was previously married to Julia Didamia Johnson and they had 11 children. Her father married Marcia's mother, July 1, 1895. Marcia was the seventh of eight children born to her father and mother. She had 29 sibling, including 14 half and eight step-siblings. As a 14-month-old infant, she journeyed in a horse-drawn wagon from Mexico to Hillsdale. Marica's father died three months before her third birthday. Her mother became a nurse and delivered many children in Tropic where Marcia grew up. Her mother, with eight children, married Frank Riding, a widower with seven children. They had three more children.

At the age of 20, Marcia married Walter Marshall, a widower with two children. Marcia and Walt had four children. They raised their family in Marysvale. Walt died in 1964, leaving Marcia a widow at age 56. She learned to drive a car, and to visit family and friends. She spent several months in the wilds of British Columbia with her daughter Zona and family. At age 62, she married Dean Witt. They first lived in Salt Lake City, but moved to the place they loved in Venice where they cared for her son, Clayton's beaver ranch. Marcia also raised chickens. They enjoyed numerous visitors and their home was plastered with photos of grandchildren and announcements of births, weddings and graduations. At 67, she flew with Dean to Australia for an LDS mission that was a highlight to their lives. She enjoyed quilting, chickens, and learning, but she loved people - especially her grandchildren. She made many quilts for their births and weddings. After Dean passed away she moved to Grand Junction, where she lived her last years with her daughter and son-in-law. She was frequently visited by friends and family and always gave them hugs. Now she leaves us for her final destination. She married Walter Allen Marshall June 19, 1930. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS temple, Nov. 10, 1965. He preceded her in death Feb. 6, 1964. She then married Dean Russell Witt, Oct. 29, 1971, in the Salt Lake temple. He preceded her in death Nov. 22, 1990. She is also preceded in death by a son, Walter V. Marshall; her parents; a daughter-in-law, Donna Jacobsen Marshall; great-grandson, Brandon Savage; and 28 siblings. She is survived by her children, Clayton J. (Lavonne) Marshall, Venice; Zona (Eldon) Bray, Grand Junction; Henry LaVon (Pamela) Marshall; stepchildren with Walter Marshall, Mildred Marshall (Leonard) Carlson, all Salt Lake City; Lenard Allen Marshall; stepchildren with Dean Witt, Dorothy Ruth McGuire, Leslie Dean Witt, Nora Kathleen Vennard, Randy Lee Bringhurst and Danell Justet; half-brother, Robert Dennis Riding, St. George. She has 14 actual grandchildren and many more by marriage; numerous great-and great-great-grandchildren. She loved them all. We will miss her dearly. Funeral services are scheduled to take place Friday, July 17, at noon, at the LDS church, 2235 Kingston Road in Grand Junction. Friends may call after 11 a.m., prior to services. Additional service are slated for Saturday, July 18, at noon, at the Venice LDS church, where friends may call at 11 a.m. Interment will be in the Venice Cemetery. Funeral directors, Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina, and Manti. Online guest book at www.maglebymortuary.com . In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City.