Marian Elizabeth Leach Feaster's Obituary
Marian Elizabeth Leach Feaster passed away quietly at her home surrounded by her children on Friday, January 30, 2015. She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Dr. John (Jack) Pipkin Feaster in 2001. Marian was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, on July 8, 1921, to William Frederic and Doris Fairbrother Leach. She graduated from Philadelphia public schools and went on to the College of William & Mary, where she met her husband. After graduating from W&M, Marian worked in the labs of Merck, where she did research into the use of penicillin. Marian and Jack moved to Gainesville in 1951, when Jack joined the UF faculty.
Marian was a scout leader as her children passed through the various levels of Girl and Boy Scouts. She was also active in UF Ag Women and volunteered at Alachua General Hospital as a "Pink Lady" for many years. She helped found the Pi Beta Phi chapter at UF. Marian was a loving mother and grandmother and a gracious hostess. Her home was always open to UF students, and especially foreign students. In her middle years she learned how to play golf and spent many happy hours on the links with her husband and friends. Marian and Jack also enjoyed traveling and made several trips together to Europe, the last of which was to visit their son who was serving in Greece.
Marian is survived by daughters Pamela Feaster Fouts (Steve), Marietta, GA, and Deborah Feaster Hargis (Don), Palm Harbor, FL, and son Bill Feaster (Pam) of Gainesville. She is also survived by sister Audrey Leach Longacre of Ponte Vedra Beach. Marian had nine grandchildren, Dennis (Sarah), Andrea, Felicia (Bret), Michael, Megan (Ryan), Donnie (Valerie), Bo, Ben, and Sam, as well as eleven great grandchildren (Addison, Emily, Christiaan, Jack, Benji, Carlo, Piper, Luke, Claire, Blakely, and Ian).
A private family service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to E.T. York Hospice Care Center, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606.
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