Marie I. Wilcox's Obituary
Marie I. Bahringer, daughter of John and Viola, was born in Rochester, NY, the second child of five. She leaves here on earth her only child Terry Lee and his wife Barbara, two grandsons, Todd Andrew Wilcox and his wife Laura, and John Struthers Wilcox and their mother, Susan E. Wilcox. The twenty-one year old granddaughter, Kelly Anne, predeceased Marie. Her youngest sister, Hazel, outlives Marie and resides in Rochester. The other sister and brothers, Corrine, Lee, Roy and Tod predeceased Marie. A couple of her best friends, a sister-in-law Betty lives in Henrietta, NY and high school friend Erma, lives in Palmyra, NY. Also in the Rochester area and across the US are many loving families of nieces and nephews and friends. For many years the Bahringer family reunions were held around the country keeping family and joining friends all close. Life is interesting. Marie tells about her Mom weighing only three pounds and fitting in a tea cup at the time of birth. With that one miracle in the 1800's, all of the connected paths of life changed.
Marie was always vary athletic and loved softball, basketball, and swimming in high school. At fifteen Marie missed a semester of school due to a critical intestinal problem and therefore, graduated in January 1937 from Monroe High School. She was always asking her dad, from a strict German immigrant family, to take her hunting and fishing. He consistently turned her down because he felt that wasn't proper girl activities. She was an avid bowler. At nineteen she went to work as an inspector of automotive weather stripping with Vogts (?) Manufacturing. Seabreeze Amusement Park was a great joy where Betty and Marie had an ice cream stand. Hubie, Marie's future husband, ran a merry-go-round with hand carved horses. He also took care of all rides and equipment in the park needing repair. They married June 7, 1937 and enjoyed 58 years of marriage until his death November 16, 1995. Hubie was an outdoor enthusiast. From that day on, with lots of hard work, she was able to make her dreams come true. They would finish work at the amusement park about 2AM and take Hubie's thirty foot plus sail boat out on Lake Ontario till sunrise. On one occasion they were in a storm so severe that the Coast Guard did not go out when they were reported overdue. Finally, they sailed into protected waters where the shores were lined with people. There, the owner of an iron ore company and a double masted sail boat, spent the winters in waters off Florida and summers on the Great Lakes. He asked Hubie to be the captain of his beached boat that Hubie had just passed. Marie said: “I love the water but I do not want to raise a family on a sail boat.” During the depression Hubie's mom and dad purchased a farm just north of Cold Brook, NY and moved from Rochester with the idea that a farm would at least allow them to grow food and raise animals to feed their six children. They were originally from the northern Adirondacks. Hubie was born in Johnsburg and his father, at one time, drove a stagecoach. At age 25 Marie and Hubie moved to Cold Brook where Hubie's father had purchased a gas station in a town with a population of 700. Eventually Hubie added an automotive garage and repair shop for farm equipment and purchased the gas station from his father. Marie kept the books, and worked as a clerk at the general store across the street. Terry was born June 5, 1941. Their Cold Brook rented apartment had no heat in the bedroom and Marie would tell how, in the winter, the wet crib sheets left in the bedroom would freeze before drying. A home became available across the street and it was rented in 1945. Property was purchased next door to their first rented apartment in Cold Brook. Construction was started on their new home by hand excavating for the foundation in a mill pond. Originally the mill pond supplied water for powering a wooden button factory. The two of them tore down the button factory and used the beams and lumber to build their new home. All planning, major construction, plumbing, electrical, and heating they did themselves. That home remains in the family today. Marie did many jobs and saved enough money to pay for Terry's first year of college. She worked in the cafeteria and substituted as a kindergarten aide at Poland Central School. Always able to make and mend clothes, she worked for Duofold making long underwear. She ran equipment to make Perfex brooms, tended the food counter at a local auction house, and sold her hand made crafts in local gift shops. Marie brought to Cold Brook a Wire-haired Terrier that became Terry's first pet after he was born. From his first day he had a love of animals. Many of Terry's friends had horses and he always wanted a horse after seeing his first western movie. Marie even took him to see Gene Autry and Champion when they came to Utica, NY. A couple days before Terry's birthday they waited in the back yard for him to get off the school bus with a horse tied to the clothes line. Arrangements were made with a next door retired dairy farmer to pasture Red. In 1955 Marie and Hubie purchased the adjoining 100 acre farm. Then in 1957 they took six teenagers on a nine day 180 mile trip through the Adirondack Mountains. The Utica Observer Dispatch followed the adventure. The newspaper stories led to the formation of our Riding Hi Ranch, Inc., insured by Loyd's of London, and we cared for as many as seventeen horses for rides, lessons, shows, and boarding. Marie again became the book keeper and Terry met today's wife, Barb, when she came to go horseback riding. Marie got to hike, climb mountains, camp, cook on open fires, swim in mountain lakes, snow ski, water ski and yes, fish and hunt. The rule was no animal was ever killed unless it was for food. At 29 she shot a black bear and a ten point buck. The same year Hubie shot a ten point buck and was always jealous because he never had the opportunity to kill a bear. That winter all ate well. The ironic story is; the bear bit Marie after it was dead and made into a rug on the floor. Terry was sick and home from school. They were playing blind's man bluff. Marie was blind folded and stepped into the bears open mouth. Thus the bear “bite” created a bad puncture wound. At eighteen Terry, self reliant, with experiences in the woods, camping, hunting and fishing from the time he was carried in a pack-basket, knew God created this marvelous world. He left home for college, became a pilot in the USMC, then worked selling steel and living in many cities across the US, returning for vacations. At one point Marie commented that she lived vicariously through Terry's adventures written in letters and pictures mailed home. When Terry took her flying for the first time she wanted to do a loop. In 2002 Terry and Barb brought Marie to Florida. After a week at Orlando's theme parks riding every fast and exciting attraction several times, they stayed with Betty at her home in Mid-Florida Lakes, Leesburg, FL. That same year Marie purchased a winter home near Betty. On Friday the thirteenth, February 2012, Marie broke her femur and the hospital said she would not survive. However, in August of that year Terry took her tandem parasailing. Last year, 2015, Marie almost tore off her big toe in a fall. After six weeks of non load bearing recovery, she went scalloping in the Gulf of Mexico in a 27 foot, center consul, open boat. No, she didn't get in the water even though she asked several times. There just wasn't any way to get her back in the boat. She remembered that on one of her cruises she did swim with the stingrays at Grand Cayman. Terry and Barb provided and traveled with Marie on a cruise for her 90th and 95th birthdays. She commented that we should plan to go on her 100th birthday. Terry told Marie she took care of him for his first 18 years and he would provide for her last 18 years. Pinochle, Skat, and Bingo became her favorite pastimes as she became mobility restricted, first with a walker and then a wheel chair. One of her last loved possessions was a three wheeled bike that Terry painted in her high school colors of red, white and blue. Well, as one of God's angels He has taken over to provide all future adventures where Marie's smiles, laughter and positive attitude will encourage all to accomplish dreams, heal sorrows and do His work through the hands of His children here on earth. A Prayer for Mom
“Most gracious Father who art in heaven. Thank you for the angel you gave me, my mother. Please let her continue to be your angel in heaven and walk beside your children here on earth sharing her smile, laughter, and positive attitude, making each day brighter for those in need of your support. Amen”
Marie died peaceably at home with her son and daughter-in-law by her side, while under the care of Cornerstone Hospice. She leaves here on earth her only child Terry Lee and his wife Barbara, two grandsons, Todd Andrew Wilcox and his wife Laura, John Struthers Wilcox and the younger sister Hazel. Her twenty-one year old granddaughter, Kelly Anne, predeceased Marie.
Celebration of Life services are planned for the following dates:
Epiphany Celebration Anglican Church 10 AM - Saturday, November 26, 2016
1724 South Bay Street
Eustis, FL 32778
Cold Brook United Methodist Church 1 PM - Sunday, October 16, 2016
(Regular Church Service 10:30 AM)
PO Box 6
Cold Brook, NY 13324
Woodcrest Commons 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM - Saturday, October 15, 2016
4455 West Henrietta Road (Meet and Great)
Henrietta, NY 14467
Please do not send flowers, you may donate to:
A. Epiphany Celebration Anglican Church
B. Cold Brook United Methodist Church
C. Cornerstone Hospice Foundation
2445 Lane Park Road
Tavares, FL 32778
What’s your fondest memory of Marie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Marie?
Share a story where Marie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Marie you’ll never forget.
How did Marie make you smile?