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Marcella 'Marcy' (Collins) Harrison, 88

| July 10, 2008 12:00 AM

Libby's 'Lady with the Pink Hair,' like the eagles has flown ….

Marcella 'Marcy' (Collins) Harrison, 88, of Libby, passed away on July 7, 2008. She was born on May 8, 1920 in Kalispell, Mont. She moved often with her parents Grover and Olga Collins and brothers, Oscar, Ellsworth, Rudy and sister, Genevieve. In 1926 the family moved to Grangeville, Idaho, where Marcy attended first grade. From there, they moved to Missoula, Billings and to the family homestead in Browns Meadow, Mont. Once again the family moved to Missoula, where she attended grade school and high school. In 1936, she married James Haviland Jensen. They were divorced and in 1946, she married Floyd Neil Harrison of Missoula and the Bitterroot.

While raising a family, Marcy worked as a meat wrapper for the Stop N Shop and Super Save stores. In 1959, she attended Derby Beauty College in Missoula, and graduated in 1960. That same year, Marcy moved to Libby where her husband, Floyd, managed Johnie's Auto Parts and she opened her own beauty shop, called Marcy's Beauty Shop.

Marcy was active in various school groups and organizations in Libby. She was a past president of the American Legion Auxiliary, a charter member of the Eagles Lodge, and organized the Elks Ladies, serving several years as president and contributing many years of service to the Elks Lodge. She also performed volunteer work for the Libby community. Marcy was a member of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Missoula.

Marcy was preceded in death by her parents, Grover and Olga Collins; three brothers, Orville, Arthur Ellsworth and Oscar Collins; a sister, Genevieve Wilhelm; two granddaughters, Marcy Lee Beck and Celina Harrison; and her husband, Floyd Neil Harrison in 1978.

She is survived by her daughter, Marcia Jensen-Middlebrook and favorite-only son-in-law Jack of Missoula; son, James Collins Jensen and wife Jan of Royal, Ark.; son, Gregory DeLoss Harrison of Libby; and son, Randy Grover Harrison and wife Jan of Rio Verde, Ariz. Marcy is also survived by a brother, Rudolph Ross 'Rudy' Collins and wife Grace of Leavenworth, Wash.; granddaughter, Shawna Beck Sullivan and husband James and great-grandson, James Walker Beck Sullivan of Braintree, Mass.; granddaughter, Riki Lyn Beck of Missoula; grandson, Jay Grant William Miller and wife Kay of Bozeman, Mont.; granddaughter, Catina Lee Harrison and great-grandson, Skylar of Boise, Idaho; granddaughter, Chandra Marcella Harrison of Rio Verde, Ariz.; granddaughter Jessica Lee and great-grandson, Kaleb Lee of Kent, Wash.; and by several cousins, nieces and nephews.

A celebration in memoriam will be held at a later time. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to St. John's Lutheran Hospital, 350 Louisiana Ave., Libby, MT 59923.

Cremation has occurred and interment will be in the Collins family plot at the Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell, Mont.