Marie Agnes Colley

Marie Agnes Baum Colley passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 27th following a brief illness that followed many years of decline from dementia. Marie, a long time resident of Ohio, was born November 15, 1925 in Canton, Ohio to Mary A. and Albert C. Baum. She was proceeded in death by her parents, her brother Donald E. Baum and two spouses, James A. Schlarb and Richard A. Colley, all Ohio residents. She graduated from Zanesville High School in Zanesville, Ohio in 1943 and attended Bethesda School of Nursing also in Zanesville, Ohio on a scholarship from 1943 – 1946. She had a long and diverse career in nursing which included many years in psychiatric nursing and teaching at Cambridge and Massillon State Hospitals in Ohio. In her last nursing position prior to retirement she was with Timken Roller Bearing in Canton, Ohio as an Industrial Nurse. She retired from this position in 1992. For a brief time, she took a break from nursing and sold real estate in Northern Ohio. But nursing and caring for others was her calling and she ultimately returned to her field. Following retirement, Marie, an avid gardener, spent her time gardening, writing poetry for friends and family, contributing to her garden club and spending time with friends and family on her pontoon boat enjoying the scenery and fishing on Leesville Lake, Leesville, Ohio. As a young woman Marie played the piano, organ and trumpet, sang on the radio with a local trio and in the choir at Grace Methodist Church in Zanesville, Ohio where she was an active member. She continued playing the piano and organ well into retirement. She was an independent spirit who spent her life in love with nature, music and literature and provided comfort and care for those around her in need. For a number of years, she was a simultaneous caregiver for her mother Mary and spouse Richard who were both seriously ill prior to their deaths in early 1980. In 2007, she relocated from Justus, Ohio to Lawrenceville, Georgia to be closer to family. In Georgia, she continued to spend her time gardening, reading and writing poetry and caring for her new dog who she aptly named Peaches after The Peach State, her new home. She had a delightful sense of humor and quick wit that remained with her long after dementia compromised her memory. She touched many, many lives over the years and will be sorely missed.

Marie leaves 3 daughters, Merry Lou Schlarb (her primary caregiver) of Lawrenceville, GA, Sally Sue Ames of Wilmington, NC and Beth Ann Davis of Buckeye, AZ, 7 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 4 great, great grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date when all her family will be able to attend, however, Memorial Donations may be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association at (alz.org) or Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at (alzfdn.org).