Matalea Marks

Posted

Matalea Marks passed away peacefully in Anconcito, Ecuador on Jan. 7, 2020 at age 63 after a year-long battle with cancer.

Matalea is survived by her siblings, Lewis Edwin Marks (wife, Leigh) of Gulf Shores, Alabama, Scott Bass Marks of Anconcito, Ecuador and Carol Marsh (husband, Bill) of Lewisburg, Tennessee; her niece, Caroline Buckley (husband, Luke) of Lewisburg, Tennessee; her nephew, Brian Marsh (wife, Mary Courtney) of Jackson, Tennessee; and their children, Eleanor Buckley, Julia Buckley, Marian Buckley, Ben Marsh and Anna Battle Marsh.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lewis Brown and Caroline Marks of Fayetteville, Tennessee, later Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Matalea was born on Aug. 20, 1956 in Nashville, Tennessee to Lewis Brown and Caroline Marks. She grew up one of four children, and attended Lincoln County High School and graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1978 with a bachelor of arts degree.

After moving to Arlington, Texas in 1978, Matalea began working for Michaels Arts and Crafts Co. as a new store opener, working at new store openings around the country. In 1982, Matalea moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee and took a position as office manager of a gas company. In 2005, Matalea decided to move to Foley, Alabama to be closer to her aging mother and got a job as teller for Wells Fargo Bank where she worked until she retired in 2018.

Matalea was accomplished at loom weaving and stained glass working and often made gifts of her work. She was a generous individual who loved animals and who was passionate about Zumba, walking, yard work, and traveling.

At Matalea's request no funeral service will be held.  Matalea was cremated in Ecuador and her ashes will be spread/planted with a palm tree that will be planted at her brother Scott's house in her memory.

All are welcome to attend and celebrate Matalea's life at the planting.

If donations are sent, please send them to St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee or to whatever the donor's favorite charity is.

Condolences can be sent to Ed Marks in Gulf Shores, Alabama or Carol Marsh in Lewisburg, Tennessee.

The family would like to thank Scott for taking Matalea on her epic travel bucket list and for setting up his home and spending the time to care for Matalea in her last few weeks without her having to pass away in a hospital.