Marion Augusta Boggs Mace, 98, of Kingwood, passed away Tuesday, January 7, 2025, in the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Mike Harriman, with family by her side.
Marion was the eldest of five children born August 22, 1926, in Looneyville, to the late Ralph and Rebecca Boggs.
Marion attended school in Roane County – first, Laurel Elementary School and then she graduated from Spencer High School. Marion excelled in the classroom with honors, earning valedictorian of Spencer High School Class of 1944.
Her high score on a state history exam as an eighth grader in 1940 earned her induction into the Order of the Golden Horseshoe.
Seventy-seven years later, in 2017, the West Virginia Department of Education honored Marion for her work in historic preservation and education by recognizing her once again as a recipient of the Order of the Golden Horseshoe, presenting her with a second Order of the Golden Horseshoe lapel pin.
Marion was an education innovator, business owner, and lifetime learner. In the 1960s, Marion opened a Kindergarten program in her home on Orr Avenue in Kingwood. For dozens and dozens of children, Marion was their first classroom teacher. Many of those children, who are adults today, have fond memories of Marion, her kind disposition and the creative learning environment she created.
Marion, along with her husband, Lawrence owned and operated the Kingwood Cleaners for 12 years.
In 1980, Marion was elected to the Preston County Board of Education being the first woman in the county to serve in the office.
In 1998, as vice president of the Society of the Preservation of McGrew House, Marion created the Order of the Rhododendron, a special event held each year to recognize and commend the performance of Preston County students on the West Virginia Golden Horseshoe exam. 2024 marked the 27th year the Order of the Rhododendron ceremony has taken place at the McGrew House in Kingwood.
Throughout her long and blessed life, Marion remained active well into her 90’s serving many organizations and serving on numerous committees. She took on leadership roles in her church, Wesley United Methodist Church, where she was a member for nearly 70 years; and in the McGrew Society in Kingwood, where she was a charter member.
Marion was a remarkable woman. She had a gentle spirit and welcoming smile. Marion loved life. She loved to travel. She loved reading and learning. She loved her church and most of all she loved and cherished the times she spent with family and friends.
Marion Mace, a life well lived.
A special thank you to Camille Western and the entire Amedisys Hospice team and caregiver Nancy Cramer, who provided Marion with compassionate, respectful, professional care and loving support to the family.
Marion is survived by her sister. Gail Popp of Marietta Ohio; sister- in-law, Betty Boggs of Spencer; her children and their spouses: Todd (Tanya) Mace of Columbus, Ohio; Jan (Mike) Harriman of the Whetsell Settlement; Kathy Mace of Kingwood; Tama (Jeff) Schut of Canton, Ohio; a special family friend, Hoy Wiles of Terra Alta; 15 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Marion was preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years, Lawrence Mace in 2009; two sisters, Effie Creamer and Unabelle Boggs; one brother, Harry Boggs; two brothers- in-law, Mike Popp and Glen Creamer.
Compassionate professional services are being provided to the family by Field Funeral Home of Masontown.
A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held at a later date in Wesley United Methodist Church in Kingwood.
