Marion Katherine Thomas MacMahon

Marion Katherine Thomas MacMahon transitioned into the beautiful next sphere of her life, certainly greeted by those who passed before her who love her and have been waiting anxiously to have her with them once again, on June 21, 2023, the summer solstice. Surrounded by loved ones, she was released from a body and mind that were keeping her from living the full, independent life she had always enjoyed.

Born in Detroit, Michigan on June 18, 1938, to Elizabeth Wunsch and Albert Daniel Thomas, she was the middle of three beautiful and well-loved daughters. She grew up in Grosse Pointe Michigan surrounded by family. Her favorite memories included summers in Traverse City, Michigan, where aunts, uncles and cousins all had vacation cottages and they played on the beach, swam and sailed. She loved being active, particularly swimming, tennis, and skiing, in her youth, and backpacking, camping, folk dancing, tai chi and somatics as an adult. She continued swimming into the last years of her life.

Marion married (and divorced amicably) Horace Caulkins MacMahon in 1958. They moved from Michigan to Georgia to Denver to California, where they finally found their forever home. Their three children; Beth (Bill, deceased), Carolyn (Kevin) and Michael (Sue), were raised in the San Lorenzo Valley. Marion was a hard worker and held many jobs, sometimes two at a time, to support her family. She found her passion in selling real estate. Because she was smart, good at numbers and had great people skills this was a perfect fit. She bought and managed Big Trees Realty in Felton, and owned it until she retired. She deeply loved the San Lorenzo Valley community and meeting and finding new homes for her clients in that community was very special to her. Many of her clients became lifelong friends.

Marion was a self-sufficient and creative person from the beginning. She was the first of her cousins to leave Michigan in order to build a life in California. She was ahead of her time in her passion for sustainable living. In the 1980's after acquiring 10 acres land off Bear Creek Road in Boulder Creek with a friend she designed her dream home; a passive solar communal living space house on the top of a mountain with expansive views. While the house was being designed, the first thing she had built on the property was a deck and a solar-powered hot tub in the wilderness; the house itself took several years of construction, most of it done by Marion, her house partner and enterprising UCSC students. The completed 3,000 square foot house has high ceilings and windows oriented towards the views, living areas for each partner, a kitchen and living room and a loft and separate room for visitors. Each room has a fireplace and a large fireplace in the living room which, along with the passive solar system, provides all of the heat for the house. Even in her early 80's she was building fires in the fireplace to heat her home. It was her dream home that she loved and lived in for over forty years; an amazing, special place to all who visited, and everyone was welcomed! A DIY'er from the start (mostly out of necessity) her children remember many times coming home to the dishwasher or clothes washer or dryer pulled apart and laid out in pieces on the floor as she tried to fix them. She also drove hybrid cars from the early stages and was waiting excitedly for the self -driving cars.

Marion and her partner of 25 years, Geoff Bercovich, found each other at the perfect time in their lives. They lived between Santa Cruz and Israel and traveled the states and the world, including China, England, Italy, Mexico, Canada, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. They had an elemental love for adventure and a deep love for each other. Marion was loved and will be missed by Geoff and his family. They said she brought so much joy into all of their lives.

There were many loves in Marion's life - besides travel, she loved good food and wine, and long meaningful (spirited) conversations about politics and world affairs with family and friends. But above all, Marion loved her children and her grandchildren: Grammie's love for her grandchildren - Ben, Cory, Colin and Sean knew no bounds. She would spend as much time as possible at any given moment with each one of them whenever possible. She loved them beyond measure and looked for ways to help them enjoy life and be part of their lives. Going to the Boardwalk (or anywhere!) was a lot more fun with Grammie than with the parents; games, food, rides, extra $20's were all part of a big day!!

No words can convey the uniqueness and vibrancy of the life Marion lived; she lived it truly to the fullest. She ran her own race, but she invited everyone in. It was not about her, it was about enjoying people and engaging in life! Her love and generosity were constant. She was always fun and fun loving. She will be deeply and profoundly missed by her family. And, we are so thankful she has been released from the mind and body that were keeping her from being the dynamic, independent soul she has always been.

A Celebration of Life will be held for friends and family on Sunday, July 9, 2023 from 1-3pm at Highlands County Park, 8500 Highway 9, Ben Lomond, CA.

Published in Press Banner · June 30, 2023