Marcia Nell (Baker) Gaustad

In the wee hours of a Sunday morning in Waco, Texas, Marcia Nell Baker Gaustad went gently to her Savior’s arms. The date was April 2, 2023 – only one month after her cancer diagnosis. Our mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and cousin left us peacefully after one final smile saved for her grandson, Myles. She was faithfully attended to by her sweet daughter, Terye, as she slipped into blessed sleep.

On December 7, 1947, while others were remembering the tragic events of Pearl Harbor, Wiley and Lauretta Baker were celebrating the birth of their beautiful red-haired daughter. Marcia (Marcy) was born in Muleshoe, Texas in Bailey County. Her father was a cotton and grain sorghum farmer on the wind-driven dusty plains of the panhandle of Texas. Marcy was the oldest of three children and grew up swinging on homemade swings, hoeing cotton, playing games, riding bicycles and expanding her talent for singing (daddy’s influence) with a LOT of extended family and friends. She attended worship services at the Church of Christ in the small farming community of Lariat, Texas. It was there that Marcy made her lifelong commitment to Jesus and was baptized into Him when she was 13 years old.  At about the same time, two of her cousins, Clint and Dan Judd, came to spend the rest of their schooling years with her family.  All of Marcy’s schooling was spent in Muleshoe public schools, where she graduated high school in 1966. It was a year of change as she and her family also moved to Florence, Montana. Marcy left home that fall to attend Abilene Christian University in Abilene, TX.

After a couple of years at ACU, Marcy met Ron Miller, who was from Belfield, North Dakota and stationed at nearby Dyess Air Force Base. They were married in August of 1969 and were eventually blessed with two sons, Aaron and Caleb. When their marriage ended in 1977, Marcy began several years in Missoula, MT of working and raising her boys with the assistance of her parents. She became acquainted with Don Gaustad and when they married in April of 1982, Don added Terye and Les to Marcy’s Aaron and Caleb. Then, together in 1986, Don and Marcy adopted a special little girl from South Korea, Sascha. Marcy and Don enjoyed several wonderful years together that were cut short when Don developed cancer. He passed away in Nov. 1992 at the age of 49. Marcy never remarried but devoted the rest of her life to her family.

In 1995 Marcy moved to Johnson City, Tennessee, taking a lot of family, including her parents, with her. From there she moved back to Texas and confessed to many that she really loved Texas and was thrilled to be there. She lived in Prosper, TX where she made numerous friends and frequented the Cotton Gin Café.  She especially enjoyed playing Rummikub, Canasta, and ‘42’ with ladies from the High Pointe Church of Christ.  She loved going on trips and it was on a cruise to Australia that she met a young woman from South Korea who became a lifelong friend.  Jiyoung Kim visited Marcy several times in Prosper and Marcy was looking forward to another visit with her this October.

In 2019 Marcy moved to Waco, TX where she bought a house with her son, Caleb, and his family. What joy she had to be living in the presence of two grandchildren! We are all grateful for the wonderful care Caleb and his wife, Tammy, provided for Marcy. Caleb shares that despite her tendency to be a bit reclusive, Marcy would surprise the family with deep friendships that spanned the globe.  She was extremely loyal and generous to her family and friends.  Caleb remembers how she always put the needs and even wants of others ahead of herself.  He also recalls the way she told her stories, adding plenty of details and color to them that is a bit of a lost art today.  Her loyalty and unconditional love were so amazing, and now, so very missed.

Marcy was preceded in death by her husband, Don Gaustad, her parents, Wiley and Lauretta Baker, and her brother, Mark Baker.  She is survived by:  her sons, Aaron Miller of Colorado Springs, CO, Caleb (Tammy) Miller of Waco, TX, and Les (Kelley) Gaustad of Missoula, MT; her daughters Sascha (Warren) Willbrant of Oklahoma City, OK,  and Terye Gaustad of Hot Springs, MT; her grandchildren Lana Willbrant, Myles and Oliver Miller, Jared Gaustad, Kailey (Jared) Tucker and Kolbey (Jessica) Gaustad; and her great grandson Maverick Gaustad.  Marcy is also survived by her sister Kathy (Mike) Tess of Bozeman, MT and numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces many of whom were very close to Marcy.

Services for Marcy are planned at the Church of Christ, 1528 S Higgins in Missoula, MT on July 1st at 3:00pm followed by a dinner.  A later service is planned at the Crestview Church of Christ, 7129 Delhi Rd, Waco, TX on September 30 at 11:00am followed by a lunch.

Registry for Marcia Nell Gaustad