Mary Marcia Daley Beck

Mary Marcia Daley Beck (94) passed away January 8, 2018.  She was born April 12, 1923 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Elmo Judson Daley and Annie Laurie (Rubreckt) Daley.  She was the first of three children.  Marcia married Merrill Wesley Beck on October 14, 1942 in the Salt Lake Temple.  
Marcia’s father was a gardener and he became half-owner of the “Feed and Grain Co.” in Sugarhouse.  He was also a carpenter and loved to build decorative bird houses.  Her mother, a convert to the L.D.S. church, came from Michigan.  She lived a short time in the Historic Beehive House in Salt Lake City. Marcia’s dear father died in 1934 at the age of 52.  She was only 11 years old at the time, and most devastated at his passing.  Her mother had to run the business on her own so that the family could survive.  Marcia had to grow up quickly, taking over many of the household responsibilities so that her mother could work.  
Marcia loved swimming at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City, as they lived on 7th East, just two blocks away.  She became a lifeguard there when she was in high school.  Later she became a synchronized swimmer at the University of Utah.
In high school Marcia was a math whiz and earned a partial mathematics scholarship at the University of Utah.  Due to financial restraints, her mother instead gave her a graduation gift of her first tuition fee to attend Henager’s Business College.  This turned out to be a blessing because this is where she and Merrill met.  Not too long after their marriage, Merrill was inducted into the Army.  As World War II broke out, he was sent to the Philippine Islands but was blessed to get a desk job because of his typing skills learned at Henager's.   Their first child, Dennis, was born while he was in the Philippines. Merrill did not see his son until he was 2 ½ years old.  Within a few years they were blessed with two more children, Gary and Myrna.
Merrill and Marcia spent most of their lives living in their many different homes in Bountiful, Utah.  Marcia was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Marcia had an unwavering testimony and a deep love for her Savior Jesus Christ. She served in many capacities however, she particularly enjoyed teaching Relief Society and Gospel Doctrine classes.  She also played the piano and learned to play the organ when her husband was serving as Bishop of the Bountiful 44th ward.
Life passed by quickly, with many wonderful family trips and memories.  Many of the grandkids favorite memories were the yearly pheasant hunting trips to Idaho where the family would hunt and swim, and Grandma would serve quietly behind the scenes by cooking  the pheasant dinners and driving the getaway car.   She was an amazing cook her whole life, even pheasant.  In 1976 Merrill and Marcia purchased a cabin at Bear Lake, Utah where the family made lifelong memories together. In 1980 they were called to serve a mission in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. These were some of the best years of their lives.  
Marcia spent most of her adult life doing genealogy work for her family line.  She lived it and loved it!!  She also loved animals dearly, especially all her kitties.  She was so kind to them, and gave them a wonderful and loving home.  She talked to them as if they were people.  She often said , “I hope I can have all my kitties when I get to the other side!”
Marcia was preceded in death by her parents Elmo Judson and Laurie Daley; her only daughter Myrna Dee in 2006; her husband, Merrill Wesley Beck  in 2011; a great grandson, Anthony (Tony) Talbot  in 1999. Her daughter-in-law, Julene (Croft) Beck; her sister, Pauline (Daley) Aiken; and her sister-in law, Marilyn (Beck) Daley all passed away in 2017.
She is survived by her son, Dennis and daughter-in-law Jolene of St. George, Utah; her son Gary of Bountiful, Utah; her brother E Jay Daley of Centerville, Utah; 15 grandchildren, and 47 great-grandchildren.
In the 94 years Marcia lived on this earth, she taught us many things.  She loved to travel and take photos of everywhere she went.  She loved photography and took many beautiful pictures, developing them in her own dark room. She had a love of learning and was constantly  reading and expanding her knowledge. We all loved her very unique laugh.  She had high expectations for her family, and we hope to live up to her great legacy.  Marcia has left us a marvelous example of caring for those family members on the other side.  We know that she is being greeted by many hundreds of people in the spirit world, whose genealogy and temple work she has done in her earthly journey.
Thank you to all who love Marcia, and to those who cared for her so kindly in her last few years.  Thank you to her dear friends who still live on, and to those who will greet her in the spirit world.  We will miss her and love her always.
Arrangements are made under the direction of Russon Brothers Mortuary in Bountiful, Utah.  There will be a viewing at Russon Brothers 295 N. Main St., Bountiful on Friday, January 12th from 6:00-8:00 PM.  We will celebrate Marcia’s life in a funeral service on Saturday, January 13th, 2018 at 11:00 AM (viewing before from 9:45am-10:45am). Interment will take place in the Bountiful City Cemetery.