Marian Fagan

Fagan,

Marian

Muskegon, Michigan

"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples".....Mother Teresa

Marian Macdonald "Nip" Fagan. Marian Fagan passed away at the age of 95 on December 7, 2024. She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years James J. Fagan, her brothers David Macdonald, and Bruce Macdonald, mother Marian Ashley Macdonald, and her father David Macdonald.

Marian will be forever missed and never forgotten by her seven children: Kathleen Fagan Riegler (John), James "Jay" Fagan (Joan), Anne Fagan (Gary Babich), Leesha Fagan, Christoper Fagan (Kristi), Daniel Fagan (Kathy), Matthew Fagan (Angie), her 18 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. Marian's endless generosity and giving spirit will also be remembered by her extended family and all those who have crossed her path.

Marian was a graduate of Muskegon High School and completed her BA in Library Science at Western Michigan University - attending night classes while raising seven children.

Marian's life in simple words: She gave, and gave, and gave again without expecting anything in return. And when thanked, she would just shrug and say "Well, I am glad you are pleased." And then with a wave of her hand, she would move on to her next service project.

Multitudes of people have benefited from the thousands of volunteer hours that Marian devoted to many organizations including: Hackley House, United Way, Kids Food Basket, 1st Congregational Church Food Pantry, and The Lemonade Stand. She was an extraordinary seamstress creating items as varied as aprons, book bags and sewing elaborate wedding dresses for her daughters. Marian enjoyed sharing her skills with others; giving sewing lessons to children in Muskegon Heights, teaching residents of various facilities how to sew pillowcases, and baking classes at school programs. She also worked as the "Story Lady" for the Muskegon Library System, and her love of books and reading had her volunteering hundreds of hours at the Hackley Library.

Marian's children benefitted from not only her love of learning, books, reading and the sharing of her skills, but from countless trips being driven in the VW mini-bus ferrying them to band, sports, friends, and other activities no matter the weather. She would sit and wait in the VW while studying for her college degree. In the days before Google, if one of the kids had a question, they were sent to the living room to drag out a volume of the Encyclopedia Britannica (average weight 15 pounds each), and told to "look it up and tell me what you find". In the kitchen she shared her baking and cooking talents. She taught them to create everything from fresh bread, cakes, and pies. Her flaky crusted pasties (meat pies that originated for miners Cornwall and adopted by miners in Michigan's Upper Peninsula), will be missed by many. And...who could forget "Goop"? Marian was ahead of her time with her always fresh ingredients, insisting on "something green on the plate" before there was such a thing as farm to table.

Marian stayed engaged and interested in world affairs throughout her life. She took part in various activities and not only talked the talk but walked the walk, supporting the causes she was passionate about. Marian loved to travel and visited many different countries through the years. She was endlessly curious about other cultures and would ask questions of anyone and everyone to learn anything she could.

As a native of Muskegon, Marian shared her love of the water with her husband Jim. Together they sailed the Great Lakes for over 25 years, creating a world of friends that lasted throughout their lives. In later years, they wintered at 'Jim and Nip's Shangri-La' in Florida on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and another circle of friends was created.

We will all miss Mom/Aunt/Cousin/Grandma/Great-Grandma/Nip/Marian, so much. But it is comforting to think of her now being able to enjoy sitting at sunset at the water's edge, wind in the pine trees behind her, campfire crackling and snapping in front of her, a Maeve Binchy book lying face down beside her, relaxed and at peace.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Friends of Hackley Library or the Coalition for Community Development.

SERVICE

Friday, December 13, 2024, 1:00 PM at First Congregational Church UCC with Rev. Timothy D. Vander Haar officiating. VISITATION: One hour prior to the service at the Church. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guestbook.

Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon