Marie J. Russell

A memorial service for Marie June Russell, 80, of Marcellus, New York, will be held Saturday, August 19, 2006 at 11 a.m. in the Onondaga County Veteran's Memorial Cemetery. She died Wednesday, July 19, 2006 in Panama City, Florida at the home of her daughter, Donna Hay, where she was under the care of her family and Covenant Hospice. Born on Friday, July 16, 1926, in Sterlingville, New York, Marie was the youngest child of Ray Sidney and Lucy May (O'Connell) Percy. She attended Philadelphia High School and completed her high school degree while raising her family. Marie married Donald Cresson Russell on August 19, 1944, in Evans Mills, New York just before he left for World War II in Europe. After Don was honorably discharged from the Army, they lived in Syracuse, moving to Marcellus in 1957. The couple worked for many years at the Syracuse Developmental Center, where Marie was a seamstress. Her husband of 51 years predeceased her in 1995. With their roots in the area around Philadelphia, Marie and Don built a cottage on the North Shore of Lake Bonaparte where they spent weekends, vacations and summers after their retirement. Marie continued to enjoy traveling, the outdoors, working puzzles, and playing cards. She especially treasured family, friends and her dog, Dutchess. Marie is survived by her two daughters and their husbands, Diane L. and Gary R. Schoonmaker of Marcellus and Donna M. and Robert D. Hay of Panama City, Florida; her sister and brother-in-law, Rita Mary and Felton B. Holmes of Cicero; her brother, Ronald A. Percy of Panama City, Florida; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Three siblings, Ray M. Percy Sr., Marjorie G. Grethel and Arthur E. Percy, preceded her in death. The family will receive friends at a luncheon following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Covenant Hospice, 107 W. 19th Street, Panama City, FL 32405 or to one's favorite charity.