Obituary of Marian Louise LaForge

LaForge, Marian 9/16/1941 - 2/7/2021 The Life, the Love, and the Legacy of our Shero, Marian Louise LaForge, age 79, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, transitioned peacefully on Sunday morning, February 7, 2021 at her home with her husband, Stephen LaForge at her bedside. Marian was born Tuesday, September 16, 1941, in Indianapolis, Indiana to Lincoln G. Fox Sr. and Helen L. Fox (Trice). To that union were also born Lincoln Fox Jr., Stephen Fox, Joseph Fox, and Annmarie Fox. Lincoln Sr. also had another son, Warren R. Springfield, who passed away at the age of 28. In 1958 at the age of 17, Marian's family moved from Indianapolis to Cassopolis, Michigan to be closer to a church friend and for the Michigan's school system before finally settling in Kalamazoo. It was there that Marian would meet her first husband of 13 years, Bill (William) G. McDaniel. To that union, two daughters were born, Karen and Desirae McDaniel. Bill adopted Marian's oldest daughter Deborah Ann. Bill and Marian divorced in 1977. In the early 1980's while working at Wright Coating Company in Kalamazoo, Marian met Stephen T. LaForge. They began dating, fell in love, and were united in marriage September 19, 1986 and spent the next 35 years together. Marian went back to school to pursue her high school diploma while raising her family. She graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1970. Upon graduation, Marian became gainfully employed and skilled at various jobs. One of her first jobs was a literature evangelist. Later in life she was employed as an Elementary School Cafeteria Worker in the Kalamazoo Public School system. She also worked at F. W. Woolworths, drove city buses for Kalamazoo Metro Transit, worked at Mervyn's Department store, and in home health care at Senior Services of Southwest Michigan. She started her own cleaning service with a friend and was also employed at Woodside and Friendship Village assisted living facilities. She retired from Friendship Village. She loved all of her jobs but Friendship Village held a special place in her heart. She was a God-fearing woman, versatile, resilient, witty, humble, grateful, a pleasure to be around, a great cook, an amazing mother, a wife and friend. She took great pride in all she did. All these skills enabled her to be an asset to any job she held. Marian is survived by her husband Stephen T. LaForge of Kalamazoo; 3 daughters, Deborah Jones (Charles) of Potterville, Karen Jackson of Niles, and Desirae McDaniel of Kalamazoo; 9 grandchildren, Nicole McDaniel, Jamar Jones (Myha), Donnie Bradford, DeMetrius Bradford (Brooke), Dillon Bradford, DeVontae Jones, Daijha Bradford, DeVinne Bradford (Jasmine), and Daniel Bradford (Nichole); 6 great granddaughters and 3 great grandsons; 1 brother Joseph Fox (Sylvia); 1 niece Gabriella Fox, as well as a host of cousins. Marian is also survived by her mother-in-law Gayle Manders-Cook and 7 brothers and sisters in- law. Marian was preceded in death by her parents Lincoln and Helen Fox, and 4 siblings Lincoln Jr., Stephen, Ann Marie, and Warren R. Springfield. Marian enjoyed baking and won several ribbons for her desserts at the Kalamazoo County Fair. She loved fishing, gardening, sewing, camping, enjoyed live concerts and plays, and traveling. She was a faithful member of the Seventh Day Adventist Churches in Indiana and Michigan. She loved Sabbath School, potluck, and sharing words of wisdom with the Pastor. Public visitation will be held at Whitley Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on February 18. Private family hour will be from 11:00 to 12:00 on February 19 with a family service to start at noon. This service will be streamed at 12:00 noon on the Whitley Funeral Home Facebook page. A celebration of life will be held later in the year Donations can be made in her memory to Hospice of Southwest Michigan or The West Michigan Cancer Center.