Mary Lou Marksch

Mary Lou Marksch July 17, 1945 – April 10, 2024 Mary Lou (Schooley) Marksch, 78, died peacefully on April 10, 2024, in Tucson, AZ. She had battled vascular dementia in the last year. Mary Lou was born on July 17th, 1945 in Champaign, IL, to Frank E. Schooley and Catherine Eleanor Schooley. She graduated from Champaign High School in 1963, Illinois State University in 1968, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. She also earned a Masters Degree in Special Education from the University of Arizona in 1976. She taught elementary school in Virginia before following her Army husband to Arizona where they lived for fifty years. In Tucson, she was a beloved teacher at Corbett Elementary and Lyons Elementary Public School. Mary Lou also worked alongside her husband, Charles A. “Chuck” Marksch scorekeeping high school sports. She was the primary caregiver for her husband—especially in the ten years before his death in 2022. Mary Lou was involved in many activities and had several interests. She enjoyed singing, along with playing her guitar and piano. Her knack for history and curiosity for science made her unbeatable at Trivia Pursuit. She enjoyed the outdoors and world cultures, with her collection of national geographic books and magazines. She had a passion for philanthropy, helping kids and families in need. Together with her husband they adopted their children from South Korea. She was an involved mother, volunteering as a girl scout leader and being involved in her son’s boys scouts and eagle troop. Mary Lou is survived by son, Anthony Marksch; daughter Rebecca Anderson, and two grandsons Vaughan Kai and Lennon Charles; her sister, Betsy Schooley; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and the next generation of their children. She was predeceased by her husband Chuck, her parents; sisters Jean Schooley and Jane McCabe; brothers Fred Schooley and Frank Schooley; and her beloved Maltese Pinky. She was surrounded in love by family. In the last months of her life, Mary Lou was cared for by the wonderful staff at Ranch Estates of Tucson; many thanks to that team. Donations in Mary Lou’s memory can be made online to Holt International, https:// www.holtinternational.org/donate/ by clicking on “Tribute Gift