Beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Marie Davis Cameron, 88, of State College, died 10AM, Sunday, 24 November in her home at Mt Nittany Residence surrounded by here family.
Born on April 19th, 1936, Marie was raised by Alan and Maude Davis of Sydney, Nova Scotia. She is survived by her daughters Lori Stowe and Rose Cameron, her grandchildren Patrick Riney, Nathan Riney and Ari Gieros, and her great grandchildren Logan and Sloane Riney. Additionally, she was blessed with a grand-dog, Koko.
Marie was a woman of the word and the world. A voracious reader and writer, Marie was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 1984 for her book of poetry – I Have No Name. A lifetime compilation of her poetry was published in 2022 by Mt Nittany Press.
In keeping with the Prophet Isaiah’s directive to be a “light unto the nations”, Marie was a committed activist who believed in justice and opportunity for all. She advocated for the advancement of women, African Americans and the disenfranchised. She was also a marcher – for Women’s Reproductive Rights, for Martin Luther King, for people with AIDS, for the Protection of Democracy. As a student of history, she wanted us to learn from past mistakes and become progressively better as human beings.
In her lifetime Marie travelled across the USA and Canada – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, California, So. Dakota, Nebraska, Texas, Alabama, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Washington, and Pennsylvania – supporting her family. She loved experiencing new cultures and cuisine. She explored Canada, Mexico, Europe, the UK, and the Caribbean. She was an extremely talented pianist and her children’s first memories were of staring up at the sound board of the Chickering parlor grand while she played The Moonlight Sonata.
Marie worked with the Hellenic organizations of the Tri Delts and Alpha Delta Pis across TCU, University of Idaho (Moscow), and Butler University. Marie came to State College in 2016 and enjoyed the companionship and education of Brit Shalom, the bridge club and the knitting club. She was a passionate supporter and volunteer to Interfaith Human Services. She was also an amazing support to her grandchild, Ari Gieros. A staunch supporter of people with Autism, Marie was always there to cheer on Ari and ensure she made it to the services she needed. She was always up for a good road trip – especially when its destination involved homemade ice cream.
Funeral service will be at 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, November 26th, 2024 at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S Atherton Street, State College, with Rabbi David Ostrich officiating. This will be followed by the burial at Boalsburg Cemetery on Boal Avenue. The family will be sitting shiva from 2-4PM on November 27th, 2024 at Brit Shalom, 620 East Hamilton Ave, State College. All are welcome, regardless of religious affiliation, to celebrate Marie’s life.
Memorial contributions may be directed to one of a selection of charities representative of Marie’s passions – Interfaith Human Services, Strawberry Fields, and The Acres Project.
Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.