Marcella “Marcy” Mary Prieve, our beloved mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully with family at her side after a brief illness at Sutter Delta Medical Center on Nov. 26, 2023. She was 101.
Marcy was born on July 5, 1922, to Anna (Meyer) and Roger Meusy in Milwaukee, WI. She grew up in Bay View, surrounded by a large extended family with her French-born mother and grandparents and other German/French/Swiss relatives who gathered frequently for lakeside picnics and Sunday dinners when she was young.
She often talked about her long walks as a youth to cold Lake Michigan to frolic on the shores with one or more of her three siblings and cousins. After graduating from St. Augustine's Catholic grade school and from Girls’ Tech and Trade (High) School in Milwaukee, she did electronic assembly work for several local factories, earning commendation for her WWII-era “Rosie The Riveter” production work.
In 1956, she married railroad conductor Harold W. Prieve and moved to Portage, WI, where their two children, Judith and Michael, were born and raised. After her young son’s tragic drowning death, Marcy returned to work but retired early from Ray-O-Vac and began caregiving for a neighbor, who happened to be Georgia O’Keeffe’s sister, Catherine, an artist in her own right. Marcy herself exhibited artistic talent herself and enjoyed sketching.
In the early 1990s, decades after her husband passed away, Marcy moved to Antioch, CA – leaving her beloved Wisconsin behind – to be near daughter Judith and family with whom she would live for the remainder of her life. She came to love the California scenery (despite the “tan hills”) and enjoyed the frequent gatherings with her son-in-law Enrique’s family. She loved people and enjoyed simply chatting for hours with friends and neighbors.
Marcy also had a passion for visiting new places, especially lakes, beaches, parks, sequoia and redwood groves, and looked forward to Sunday rides, eating out, looking at old photos and simply being with friends. In her spare time, she enjoyed playing piano (by ear), singing and listening to music from the 1940s, playing with dog Astro or simply sitting outside enjoying the flowers. Most of all, Marcy was a doting grandmother who would give anything for her beloved grandchildren, Natalie and Nicolas, and delighted in watching them grow up. She also was a woman of strong Catholic faith who loved to attend church and will most be remembered for her smile, positive outlook on life and generous nature.
Marcy was preceded in death by husband Harold, son Michael, sister Hazel (Louis) Gawin, brothers Robert (Eleanor) and Russell (Ruth) Meusy, niece Nancy (Carl) Ignatowski, nephews Dennis (Susan) Prieve, Richard Meusy and Russell “Buzz” (Lynn) Meusy. She is survived by daughter Judith Gutierrez, son-in-law Enrique Gutierrez, granddaughter Natalie Gutierrez, grandson Nicolas Gutierrez, all of Antioch, nephew Bill (Mary) Meusy of Muskego, WI, and other relatives. Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. on Dec. 18 at Holy Cross Cemetery, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 a.m. at Most Holy Rosary Church at 1313 A Street and interment at Holy Cross Cemetery at 2200 E. 18th Street, all in Antioch.
