Fay Marcus
- – Fay Marcus was born Fay Gertrude Ammermann on April 24, 1942, to Nan and Trena (Meyer) Ammermann of rural Clara City, Minnesota. After battling metastatic ocular melanoma for several years, she went to be with her Lord on January 1, 2019. She was 76 years old.
Fay attended Clara City Public School grades 1-12. She started her college studies at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan and finished at the University of Minnesota where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education with emphasis on organ and voice. She taught for one year in the Bloomington, MN school district as a Music Consultant while also being organist/choir director at Andrew Presbyterian Church near the university.
Fay accompanied her husband, Ron Marcus to Luke AFB in Glendale, AZ after he graduated Dental School in 1966. Fay and Ron subsequently decided to make Phoenix their home and have resided there the last 52 years.
Fay devoted her life to music and other ministries. She has been organist, choir member, choir director and Director of Music Ministries of various churches. Fay also volunteered much of her time to Calvary Rehabilitation Center, a drug and alcohol treatment center in Phoenix. She started with the Ladies Auxiliary, became a board member, and eventually was elevated to be president of the Board of Directors. In 1990 she became the Director of Development. From 1998 to 2001 she worked with the Reformed Church in North America to be the denominational representative for the Synod of the Far West for Urban Ministries. In 2001, both she and Ron retired and spent many years traveling and enjoying summer places in Minnesota and California.
Fay is survived by her husband, Ron; two sons, Ronald (wife Sheree) and Rick (wife Stacey), four grandchildren, Kaela, Allison, Wyatt and Emmett, along with many dear relatives and friends. Fay was preceded in death by her only sister, Minnie Mae, at 15 years of age, her parents and grandparents.
Fay did not remember a time in her life when God was not central in her life. She was raised by godly parents who started her on her spiritual journey. Church and church activities were always very important to her.
A Celebration of Life and Faith service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 19, 2019, at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 100 W. Roosevelt Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Parking is available in the garage just north of the Cathedral.
Memorial gifts would be appreciated in lieu of flowers. Fay asks that gifts be made to House of Refuge in Sunnyslope, AZ, a transitional program for single moms and for men being let out of prison, or to Trinity Cathedral Music for their community outreach through excellent musical performances. Please send any gifts to the Cathedral.