Marcia B. Bacon

While in the loving care of her family, Marcia B. Bacon passed away at her Milan home on June 18, 2011. The daughter of Linwood and Ada Gadwah, she was born in Kidderville (Colebrook) on May 11, 1930. All her life she remained proud of her humble roots and hardworking parents. She grew up in the small town of Percy, where she attended a one room school. Hot summer days were spent picking buckets of berries, catching brook trout, or swimming in beautiful Christine Lake. A 1948 alumni of Groveton High School, she later earned an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts by attending the NH Vo-Tech College in Berlin, long before opportunities for adult learners were readily available. Married to Frank Bacon for 55 years, together they raised a family of five children in Milan Village where their large yellow house was always the scene of big family gatherings. Her cookie jar was never empty and she mailed many boxes of goodies to grandchildren in distant locations. Much to the surprise and delight of a grandson in Iraq, who was the recipient of a large jar of pickled eggs. Marcia loved to cook and the smell of freshly baked bread or homemade donuts frequently wafted from her kitchen. She was employed as a cook at various places in the North Country, including the Milan Village School, the Berlin Senior Meals program, The Balsams, and the NH Vo-Tech College cafeteria. At age 80 she bid a fond farewell to her final employer, Wal-Mart. She enjoyed old time country auctions, decorating her home with antiques and amassing a fine collection of blue cobalt glass pieces. Because of the Bacon family name, it also amused her to collect pigs of all shapes and sizes. A woman of many talents, she refinished furniture, caned chairs, and created beautiful handwork, especially quilts, which were given as loving gifts for family and friends. She steadfastly maintained the philosophy that a cook could never own too many cookbooks or a quilter too much fabric. An avid reader, she filled bookcases with a wide variety of books. Throughout the years Marcia served her community, at one time a member of the Milan School Board and as a Library Trustee. She was never too tired to bake pies for an Old Home Day supper or bread for the Lutheran Church bake sales. She founded several local TOPS chapters and at one time served as the NH TOPS Area Coordinator. Meetings of the Home Extension group were often hosted at her house. Many 4-H club members benefited from her cooking classes. Part of her heart held a special place for dogs and she loved many during her lifetime, most especially her toy poodle Pixie, and her adopted greyhound, Little. Marcia achieved membership in the AMC 4000 Footer Club by climbing all the mountains in NH over 4000 feet and introduced other generations of her family to the joys of hiking and the beauty of the White Mountains. At age 60 she accompanied a grandson up the Glen Boulder Trail. She forged strong friendships and made the effort to maintain them. Recently she enjoyed the meetings of the Red Hat Society. Strongly dedicated to her family, Marcia rarely failed to attend school programs or sporting events in which a child, grandchild or great grandchild might make even a fleeting appearance. She was a compassionate and uncomplaining care giver for her husband and parents during their long illnesses. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, she met the disease with dignity. Leaving a legacy as a loving wife, a special mother, a proud grandmother, and thoughtful neighbor, she will be forever missed by her family and friends. She leaves five children: Zanita Morin and her husband Robert of Milan, Bronwyn Bashore and her husband Scott of Newburyport, MA, Lance Bacon and his companion Kelly Judson of Raymond, NH, Gregory Bacon of Owensboro, KY and his former wife Vicki Bacon of Hudson, NH, Brice Bacon and his wife Lynne of Dummer; eight grandchildren including Matthew and Nathan Hawkins, Christopher and Benjamin Bashore, Danny Bacon, Ashley Bacon, Brinna and Zackary Bacon; and eight great grandchildren including Nicholas Erickson, Elijah, Owen and Sydney Hawkins, Nelson and Jonathan Hawkins and Gabriel Bacon. A private graveside service will be held at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Milan. Friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life on Friday, June 24th at the Mahoosuc Inn, Route 16 in Milan from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, it was Marcias wish that donations be made to AVH Hospice, 59 Page Hill Road, Berlin, NH 03570 in grateful appreciation of the professional and compassionate care she received during her illness.