On February 22, 2021 our precious loved one Marcia Munson was welcomed home into the loving arms of the Lord.
Marcia lived a full and eventful life, full of loving family and friends, a successful career and service to her Los Osos Community and beyond. Grassroots support and dedication to make positive change for people and the environment was her legacy.
Marcia was the seventh of eight children. Her siblings were much older, apart from her baby brother David Crane. We like to think of her and Dave dancing on together as they loved to do. She saw a lot of change in her 93 years and had an incredible positive spirit and belief in goodness and justice.
Born in Costa Mesa, Ca. to a hardworking farming family, country life did not suit her. She preferred more lively venues such as swing dancing to the big band orchestras of Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman, on Coronado Island and USO dances around Southern California. Several magic summers in Tahoe, in her teens, made Lake Tahoe a favorite place.
Her love of music was celebrated in her 26 years participating in the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, rain or shine. Marcia attended Pismo Jazz events, live music with friends at Dockside and taught her girls to dance in the kitchen.
She was a dedicated wife of 35 years to Jene Douglas Munson a commercial fisherman and diver. They moved up the California coast with their boat “following the fish.” Jene and Marcia purchased their home in Los Osos and with their daughter Marcia Ann put down roots.
The El Moro Democratic Club was soon established and continues to this day. Grassroots organizing and helping create an informed constituency, along with voter registration at farmers market and the county fair, has been her focus. Marcia was introduced to politics at an early age by her politically active mother, Ruby Crane who also lived in Los Osos. At the age of seven, Marcia helped campaign, with her mother, for Upton Sinclair in 1934, over the decades and including Salud Carbajal in 2017. She lived the truism “Democracy is not a Spectator Sport”.
Marcia was the last of the founding members of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Los Osos. She was an active member for 63 years attending and participating regularly up to the beginning of the COVID pandemic. She was active in every facet of the church’s function and fellowship. Cherished beyond words were her friendships. She was one of the first to welcome and include a new visitor often leaving her regular pew to walk across the sanctuary to welcome the newcomer and introduce herself. She would also be ready following the service to greet all with a cookie, hot cup of coffee and some good conversation.
The Village Children’s Center, Day Care and Preschool was established at the church and gave Marcia her first teaching opportunities. Marcia volunteered and participated as a girl scout leader with her girls for 25 years. Camaraderie and campouts were her specialty.
The early years of Cuesta College saw Marcia as a student. Studying in the original army barrack buildings of Camp San Luis without any frills. As the college grew and the need arose for a study center for student tutoring, Marcia was recruited to develop and facilitate the program. Her fulfilling career lasted 25 years, helping and supporting the success of thousands of students. This commute resulted in the longest running carpool with Los Osos, Church and Cuesta pals: Joe Asire and Bill Fairbanks.
Marcia’s focus over the decades was to help make sure some of the least fortunate had a warm meal. This was achieved through monthly meal prep and serving the homeless through the People’s Kitchen program. In collaboration with many area churches, this long running program has served tens of thousands over its 33 years. That is a lot of tuna casserole! When asked whether there were many Iraq war veterans in attendance Marcia’s reply was: “Not too many, not like during the Korean War.”
Marcia will be particularly missed by her family including daughters:Marcia Ann Larsen, Paula Munson-Bice, Pam and Steve Montgomery, grandchildren John Larsen, Sarah, Christopher and Caddell Bice, Ryan and Kristen Montgomery and great grandson Cedar Larsen. Victor and Linette Supertino, Jeanie Marie Lambert and Guida Grositi, Dee and Linda Shreiber, Chad, Tom, John, Rob, Mary, Sylvia, Stan and Wyman Crane families along with cousins, nieces, and nephews. Marcia Ann Larsen has been a supporting companion and willing scrabble player with her mother for many years and they have come to be known as the Marcia’s. Hold her in your hearts and prayers.
Mom will be so very missed, but the joy and gratitude of having such a mother pushes back on the sorrow.
We will be trying to live up to Marcia’s example and follow her advice: “If you can change something for the better, than you better get up and do something about it, if not, give it to God,”
We will be having a celebration of Marcia and her life well lived.
Saturday August 7, 2021 at 12 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Los Osos, 490 Los Osos Valley Road.
Due to restrictions, no refreshments will be served. There will be a sharing table of mementos or photos, please feel free to bring an addition.
If you have questions, call 916 505-3920. All are welcome
