Marie Louise Huckaby

Marie Louise Huckaby, 75, of Clarks Green, died Friday at Geisinger Community Medical Center. She was the wife of James M. Huckaby.

Marie was born in Peoria, Ill., and was the daughter of the late Raymond and Margaret Johannsen Gieszl. She graduated from San Leandro High School in 1956, where, academically, she was in the top 2 percent of all students in the state of California. At the time, she chose to pass on a full academic scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley. Instead, she entered the workforce with a real estate/trust company. It was soon after she met the love of her life, Jim, who was serving in the Navy. She also worked at UC Berkeley, typing doctoral dissertations. Eventually, once their children were older, Marie studied for her bachelor's degree at Penn State Worthington Scranton and Wilkes College before they moved to California. There, she graduated from National University in San Diego, where she finished top of her class. She then went on to earn a master's degree in computer information systems and took a job with Christian Heritage College. It was there she designed and initiated its entire computer network and system. After two years, God called them back to the Scranton area and Baptist Bible College. At that time, Marie worked for Arley Wholesale and Beloit Manhattan before taking a job with the Luzerne County Office of Human Services. There, Marie was instrumental in tying the computer systems together at all three levels of the county, state and federal government for more effective operations.

Jim and Marie have been married for nearly 54 years and have been members of Heritage Baptist Church for 41 years. Marie was a tremendous encourager and enjoyed life to the fullest. Aside from being extremely intelligent, especially with computer systems, she was a very gifted artisan, being very accomplished in a wide variety of areas such as painting, ceramics, decoupage, quilting and many others. She was also an accomplished pianist. She spent much of her free time creating art in all of those areas. She was awarded the top blue ribbon in the NEPA Quilter's Guild for one of her quilts. Marie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend; taking in many students from Baptist Bible College and providing for them during their stay. She might best be known for her tireless and selfless service to others. She will be dearly missed.

Also surviving are two sons, Scott A. Huckaby and wife, Kari, Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Stephen Huckaby, Costa Mesa, Calif.; a daughter, Lori J. Huckaby, Cedarville, Ohio; four grandchildren, Preston, Quinten, Deacon and Lillian Huckaby; a sister, Carol Humphries; brother and sister-in-laws, Sam and Joyce Paulson; and John and Gail Huckaby; several nieces and nephews.

Marie was also preceded in death by a brother, John Gieszl.

A funeral service will be Monday at 7 p.m. in Heritage Baptist Church, 415 Venard Road, S. Abington Twp.

Friends may call Monday from 1 to 4 at the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, 418 S. State St., Clarks Summit. A graveside service will take place Tuesday at 10 a.m. in Clarks Green Cemetery.