Obituary of Marsha Kathleen Maxwell-Ford

Marsha Kathleen Maxwell-Ford age 69 of Yelm, Washington ascended to heaven on Sunday January 19, 2020. In the days before she passed, Marsha was surrounded by loved ones while in the hospital in Olympia.

Marsha Kathleen Schulz was born August 10, 1950 to Lorraine Estelle Drake Schulz and John Walter Schulz in Concord, California. She grew up in California with three siblings Sharon (Sissy), Gary, and Nancy. Marsha attended Alhambra High School and went back to complete her diploma in 1975 along with her sister Nancy.

Marsha married Bernie Maxwell on April 6, 1968 in Carson City Nevada at 17 years old. They moved to South Dakota for a short time before moving back to Pittsburg, California where she and Bernie had three children; Stacey, Shannon and Aaron. In 1978, the family moved from California to Roy, Washington. While living there, Marsha managed the family household, three kids and multiple animals the kids grew up with.  She supported the kids and her family with love, authority and her infectious laugh. In 1984, Marsha and Bernie divorced and she moved with the kids to Yelm where she managed a local store and worked at Wilcox Farm for many years. Marsha met the love of her life, William (Bill) Ford, while they both worked at Wilcox.

Marsha and Bill were married in Rainier, Washington in 1998.  They built a life together in Yelm, enjoying motorcycle riding, camping, country western concerts and spending time with family and grandkids. Marsha loved riding the motorcycle around Mt. Rainier and enjoyed a lot of memories there.

Marsha was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who loved spending weekends with her kids and grandkids, watching them in sports and making memories during holidays. She is survived by her husband William Ford, her children; Stacey Schuneman, Shannon Sutton and Aaron Maxwell, step-son Anthony Ford, grandchildren; Brittney Schouviller (26), Courtney Koivu (20), Morgan Maxwell (16) Connor Schuneman (13) and Cade Schuneman (9), along with her siblings Sharon (Sissy) Tower, Nancy Pierson, and Gary Schulz. Marsha will be laid to rest at the Rainier, Washington cemetery at a later date with immediate family.

Marsha’s Celebration of Life will be hosted Saturday February 22, 2019 from 1pm to 4pm at the Yelm Moose Lodge 1117 West Yelm Ave, Yelm, WA 98597