MARGARET MARCUM

Blountville, TN/ Big Stone Gap, VA - Margaret Olein (Jessee) Marcum passed away on November 19, 2024 at 88 years old. Born in Big Stone Gap, Virginia to William Kent Jessee and Minerva Florence (Frazier) Jessee on January 22, 1936, many of us knew her simply as Susanne or Suze.

Margaret joined the First Christian Church of Big Stone Gap, was saved in the early 1950’s, and graduated from Big Stone Gap High School as Class of 1955. Margaret met the love of her life and married Jesse Berry (JB) Marcum in September 1956. Margaret and JB had three children together: Kenneth Lee and twin daughters Karen Sue and Sharen Ann. In their later years, they also had a bonus child - their baby dog Foxy, whom Margaret cherished and missed dearly.

Margaret and JB shared 62 years of true love, romance, travel, and adventure together, feeling blessed at every turn before JB passed away on August 29, 2018. During their marriage, Margaret and JB traveled extensively for 21 years as JB served in the US Air Force, both in the United States and Europe. All the while, Margaret worked for different telephone companies throughout six states in the US, and retired from AT&T in 1989.

If you know anything about Margaret, then you know how much she loved and believed in God and Jesus. Per Margaret's statement, as the baby of her family, she was doted on and spoiled by her parents and siblings and loved her family and God more than anything. She also loved traveling (her favorite trip was to Tangiers, Africa) and to feel the sand between her toes. While Margaret was always kind and generous, her kids and grandkids knew that she was always three steps ahead of everyone else, especially when they were trying to get into trouble. Although, as we look back, one of our favorite memories was when the grandkids were able to trick her into riding a roller coaster at Disney! We have such fun memories of her. 

Margaret’s belief was that every day is a good day, no day is a bad day, life is unfair at times, but we learn from our mistakes. Her last wishes for her family were that her daughters and son be healed in health, her children and grandchildren know right from wrong, and that she has left a good impression on their lives. When asked to describe her day in three words, Margaret said: “Beautiful, Godly, and Peaceful. It’s Sunday and the ice cream is good.” Margaret would also remind us of the first verse and chorus of her favorite hymn “Did you think to Pray?”: “Ere you left your room this morning,

Did you think to pray? In the name of Christ our Savior, Did you sue for loving favor, As a shield today?

O how praying rests the weary!

Prayer will change the night to day; 

So when life seems dark and dreary, 

Don’t forget to pray.” - M. A. Kidder (1876)

Margaret is preceded in death by her husband Jesse B. Marcum, her parents William K. and Minerva F. Jessee, her sister Bernice (& Ray) Wilson, and brothers Daries W. (& Virginia) Jessee, Earnest (& Joyce) Jessee, Gaylord (& Sarah) Jessee, and Carl (& Shirley) Jessee. She is also preceded by her father-in-law and mother-in-law Jake S. (& Ruby) Marcum, sister-in-law Doris (James) Marcum, and brothers-in-law Jake “Junior” and Darrell Marcum. Most recently, Margaret was preceded in death by her son-in-law Terry D. Reardon, Sr. and granddaughter Amanda Reardon.

Margaret is survived by her twin daughters Sharen A. Reardon and Karen S. (& Jeff) Rutland and son Kenneth L. Marcum (&Ellen). She also leaves behind many grandchildren - Joseph (& Amber) Marcum, Nathaniel (& Cara) Marcum, Crystal (& Allison) Colmenero, Terry (& Hellen) Reardon Jr., Benjamin Songy, Jason (& Mandi) Reardon, Shanell Reardon, Taylor Reardon, Jessica Reardon, Matthew Reardon, Jennifer Reardon, Sha Reardon. She is also survived by several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.

A Celebration of Life service will be conducted at 1:00 pm Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens Mausoleum Chapel with Rev. Ray Amos, Jr. officiating. Music will be provided by Jamie Johnson. Entombment will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by visiting their website at www.stjude.org A guest registry is available for the family at www.holdingfuneralhome.com Holding Funeral Home of Big Stone Gap is honored to serve the family of Margaret Olein Marcum.