Mercedes Marson, 83

Mercedes S. "Mercy" Marson of Hudson passed away at home March 18 after her long, courageous battle with scleroderma.

Mercy was born in La Union, N.M., Dec. 29, 1929, to Jose and Juliana Salinas. She graduated from Gadsden High school, Anthony, N.M., in 1950, valedictorian of her class. One of her first post-high school occupations was as assistant to the founder of Valley Canning Company, (currently Old El Paso Foods, a General Mills product line for Mexican-style food). She liked to tell us that the factory at that time was so small that her office was inside a silo.

Mercy took a position in 1952 with Ballistic Research Labs, White Sands Missile Range, Las Cruces, N.M. It was there that she met Thomas "Tom" Marson who was stationed at White Sands with the Army. They were married Feb. 6, 1954. in her home town parish church, St Patrick's Church of Canutillo, Texas, a small town adjacent to the city of El Paso, Texas.

Mercy and Tom were blessed with five children: Michael, Mari, James, John, and Julie.

In 1964, Mercy helped move her family from the El Paso, Texas, area to Hudson where husband Tom began a career with 3M Corporation in St. Paul, Minn. The family often made flying trips between El Paso and Hudson in their small private plane where Mercy was co-pilot to her husband, Tom. Mercy was known to all as a sweet, gentle, kind, caring person who went out of her way to reach out to others or to lend an ear and comforting hug. She was a master organizer, superb "accountant," and tireless worker. Her greatest joy was to provide a loving home for her husband and children. She was greatly involved for many years in St. Patrick's Church Women's Council (PCCW) and 4-H leadership with the Glover All Stars. Fluent in Spanish, Mercy also taught Spanish at St. Mary's Parochial school in New Richmond, Wis.

During the family's growing years, and later, she was a master planner and avid participant in weekly family camping and fishing trips where the family used everything from tents to motor homes. She often said the best trip of all was 1 week of rough wilderness camping on Connor's Lake in the Minnesota Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

All who knew Mercy remember her wonderful, easy-going, and caring personality. Mercy possessed a quiet humility and took great pleasure in championing the accomplishments of others. She was always the gentle leader who got things done by quiet and thorough planning for any and all activities. She made things seem easy but behind the success were hours of meticulous planning and even "dry runs."

Mercy was preceded in death by her parents, Jose and Juliana Salinas; brother Cruz Salinas (WW2); brother Ramon Salinas; and sister Librada Porras.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas, and children: Michael Marson, New Brighton, Minn.; Mari Marson, Hudson; James Marson, Minneapolis, Minn.; John Marson, Beldenville, Wis.; and Julie Marson, Hudson.

She is also survived by a brother, Marc Salinas, and sister, Genoveva Salinas, as well as daughters-in-law Cindy (Michael) Marson and Kathy (James) Marson; grandson Cooper Marson; and dozens of cherished cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 26, at St. Patrick's Church in Hudson. Memorial visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Monday, March 25, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at St. Patrick's Church, and also Tuesday from 10-11 a.m. before the service. Interment will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery.

Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services of Hudson.

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