Marcia Ellen Depew

Death is nothing else than going home to God, the bond of love will be unbroken for all of eternity. Mother Teresa. With the knowledge that our bond of love is eternal, we share that our Sister, Daughter, Mother and Friend, Marcia Ellen Depew, age 52, passed away on December 23, 2016 in San Diego, California with her son and a dear friend at her side. Marcia was born April 14, 1964 in Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, the third of four daughters born to Barbara and Jay Depew. The family settled and Marcia grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho. She was the first female Student Body President at O’Leary Jr. High School then graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1982. During high school she excelled at many sports especially softball and basketball. She was a standout high school athlete as Title IX, giving girls equal sports participation, was coming into being. Her senior year she proudly wore her feminist banner and insisted that the administration, who excused the boys team from school, give the girls basketball team equal time off from school to attend the girls state basketball tournament, the administration declined her request. Regardless, she and others from her team attended the tournament.
Marcia attended Olympic College in Bremerton, Washington on a basketball scholarship where she played ball and earned an Associate in Science degree. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Oregon, graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Physical Education in 1986. From there she found her forever home in Southern California where she earned a Master’s Degree in Physical Education from San Diego State University in 1992. Additionally, in 1990 she earned certification from the American College of Sports Medicine as a Preventive and Rehabilitative Exercise Specialist. Finally employable, she spent many years working as a Fitness Specialist in the world of corporate fitness for the Pacific Bell Company throughout Southern California. During those years she lived her life fully by nurturing lifelong friendships, experiencing relationships and enjoying the beaches and fun in the sun life of Southern California.
In January of 1999 she experienced her greatest joy with the birth of her son, Mitchell Oliver Depew. As a mother she was equal parts loving, firm, overbearing and protective. Over the years their relationship has grown into one of both mother-son moments and gradually more friend-friend moments. The love they share is beyond this life experience.
As life does, Marcia started a new journey in 1998 when she earned a Certificate with Honors as a Legal Assistant and then went on to attend and graduate from California Western School of Law in 2003 with a Juris Doctorate. With that degree and education, she pursued a new passion in the world of Patent Law where she continued her own solo law practice until the time of her death.
Her legacy and spirit live on in those she leaves here including, her son Mitchell of the family home. Her Father, Jay Depew of Twin Falls, Idaho; three sisters, Paula (Randy) Chapman of Buhl, Idaho, Brenda (Tom) Baumeister, of Wenatchee, Washington and Jayna Hammericksen of Las Vegas, Nevada. Nieces (Tessa, Joy, Annde) and Nephews (Allen, Nicholas, Dayne) who adored her and remember her as the Aunt you could trust with your secrets but who also enjoyed embarrassing you in front of new friends. Numerous Aunts, Uncles and Cousins from Idaho and scattered around the country will also miss her honesty and laughter, her stories and the love she so generously gave to all. She was preceded in death by her Mother, Barbara Carol Depew, Maternal Grandparents, Calvin and Pauline Harper, and Paternal Grandparents, Frank Depew and Jewell Depew.
Marcia was also blessed with an amazing and large Friend-Family from San Diego and other areas of Southern California. So many friends have come forward to share their own stories as well as to support us, her birth family, as well as each other. These dear friends have truly been family to Marcia giving her support, love, guidance and fabulous life memories. We know Marcia did the same for them as well. Our life stories begin in the homes of our birth families, but new chapters are added by the friend-families we grow throughout our lives. Marcia was fortunate to have both.
As her family we will be sharing a Celebration of Marcia’s Life event both in Idaho and in San Diego. In San Diego, please join us for this Celebration of Marcia’s Life on Saturday, January 14, 2017, 1pm at University Christian Church, 3900 Cleveland Ave, San Diego. A reception will follow the service at the church. The Celebration of Marcia’s Life in Idaho will be set for a future date. To Honor Marcia’s Life and the Gift of Life she gave her son, Mitchell, you may consider a donation to “Mom’s Love Mitchell Depew College” fund (https://www.gofundme.com/moms-love-mitchell-depew-college ). Arrangements are through Featheringill Mortuary at featheringillmorturay.com, please visit their site to share thoughts and stories, such will be very appreciated by her family and friends.