Marcia Jean Peacore

Marcia Jean Peacore, 84, of Colorado Springs, passed away peacefully in her home on Monday, December 19, 2022, surrounded by her family. She was born on May 22, 1938, in Denver, Colorado to Marthena and Milton Spiker and had a twin brother Milton Spiker of Fort Worth, Texas and an older sister Dona Eilers of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Marcia grew up in Denver and after graduating from Littleton high school in 1956, she enrolled at Colorado State University where she was a member of Kappa Delta sorority and received an associate’s degree in 1958. After college, Marcia moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, when her parents bought a Chevrolet dealership in Deadwood. In 1959, Marcia was working as an administrator for Guy “Pop” March, head of the Math Department at the South Dakota School of Mines, when George walked into her office, it was love at first sight. They wed the next year in Rapid City and were married for 62 years.

The couple lived in Minneapolis before moving to Colorado Springs in 1963 where George started Weather Engineering & Manufacturing, Inc., a heating and air conditioning business. In addition to her full-time occupation as a homemaker, Marcia worked alongside her husband at the company part-time for many years.

Marcia and George loved the Lord, and were members of First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs where they have attended for 57 years. Marcia was active in many areas at the church including serving as a deacon, and helping to start the Get Set Preschool and the Pathfinders Sunday School class. Marcia also started a women’s walking group known as the Ladies of the Lake. The group has walked around the lake at the Broadmoor Hotel nearly every morning for 30 years.

She loved Santa Fe, Native American art (pottery, jewelry, paintings, sculpture), and everything southwestern. In 1984, she and George worked with architect John Midyette in Santa Fe to design their southwestern adobe home on the corner of Brown Bear Lane in Colorado Springs where they have lived since then. She also loved the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and Canine Companions, the organization where she adopted her last two beloved dogs, Harpo and Zeke.

Marcia lived a life of service to her community, volunteering at several local organizations including Hope and Home, Silver Key delivering Meals On Wheels, the Dale House, and as a den mother for her sons’ Cub Scout troops.

Marcia’s service to Hope & Home grew out of a friendship with George Cresswell, a fellow Sunday School class member at First Presbyterian Church. In 1995, Cresswell was working with the Myron Stratton Home to provide mentoring and foster care to orphaned children at the home. He contacted Marcia about mentoring a young girl, Daphne, who was 7-years-old and wanted to go to church. Marcia quickly agreed and mentored her for many years. This work was the start of Hope & Home, an organization that supports foster families across the Front Range. There is a tribute from Daphne below.

Marcia was preceded in death by her parents and her older sister Dona. She is survived by her husband George, and her three sons and their families: Stephen Peacore of Colorado Springs (wife Diane); Michael Peacore of Seattle, Washington (wife Sarah Matthews); Matthew Peacore (wife Linda) of Pasadena, California; as well as grandchildren Christian, Grace, and Caroline, great-grandchildren Remington and Rayden, and her brother Milton.

A celebration of her life will be held on May 5 at 10:30am at First Presbyterian Church. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Marcia’s memory to Hope and Home, Canine Companions or First Presbyterian Church Get Set Program.

Additional remembrances from family members and loved ones:

From Daphne Russell

Daphne visited Marcia on the day she passed away and posted the following: 

“I’ve had to say goodby to pets knowing I wouldn’t see them in this life again but no one prepared me for saying goodby to Marcia, someone I loved so dearly and meant so much to me. I was so blessed and so thankful her family gave me the opportunity to hold her hand and tell her how much I loved her, how much she changed my life and helped mold me into the woman I am today. I met Marcia when I was 7 living in an orphanage, she took me to church and bible study, she took me out shopping, to get my hair done and always to Red Robin. I can’t go to a Red Robin without thinking of her. I used to sit by the window of the orphanage waiting to see her “Slug Bug” pull up, excited I got to feel like a “normal” child for a day. I was a tomboy with zero sense of style (I still am) but she would take me to the mall and buy the prettiest outfits, I’d be so excited to show off to the other kids. She only had sons and grandsons but always wanted a daughter so she adopted me into her life and treated me like her own even after I was adopted by another family. In the orphanage we were all treated like less than, the unwanted ones, the dirt of society, and Marcia, along with a few other people, restored my faith in people, my belief in God and hope for my future. I felt loved. I will always remember her and the impact she had on my life, and what a blessing she was to this world and I am so thankful she was brought into my life when I needed her the most. I love her so much. So I sit here numb with pain, praying for her husband and her family but knowing as her husband said “this isn’t a goodbye but an until we meet again.”

Sarah Matthews, Marcia's daughter-in-law

Marcia, what a great lady. From the time we met, the love story of Marcia and George was evident, something to behold and an inspiration

From Grace Peacore, Marcia’s granddaughter

My Grandma was an amazing woman. She was beautiful and kind and generous. She never yelled or got very angry, but rather quietly took care of everyone around her. She set an example in the way that she gave to others. She committed to so many causes, and was incredibly selfless in donating, helping, and making others a priority. It was because of Grandma that our family learned how to give back. Throughout my life, I watched her effortlessly care for my grandpa, dad, uncles, sister and cousin, and always be sure that everyone had what they needed. She was a role model. She was elegant and graceful. She made our family softer, and more giving. She continues to be what holds us all together. 

I was the first granddaughter, the first girl in a long line of boys, and Grandma always made me feel extra special. I have so many sweet memories of going to the Colorado Springs Zoo with Grandma and feeding the giraffes, or eating breakfast at the Broadmoor, or sitting around the dining room table playing dominoes. She gave me baths and brushed my hair, helped me build my first snowman, hosted girls’ tea parties in the treehouse, always gifted me the nicest clothes and painted my nails, cheered me on at my high school graduation, and loved me with her whole heart. I am so glad that in her last few days I was able to hold her hand, read to her, and tell her how much that love has meant to me. Grandma, we miss you. 

From Caroline Peacore, Marcia’s granddaughter

My grandmother was classy. With glowing white hair and beautiful red nails. She always dressed impeccably and in my little girl's head was the picture of glamor, grace, and womanhood. I’ve loved her my whole life, and I always knew she loved me back. That is the beauty of family because they are there from when you are born, just loving you. If you knew my grandmother, you would know that she was not a very outwardly emotional woman – elegant and understated. The more time I spent with her, the more obvious it was just how strong and grounded of a woman she was. She loved hard. She held up a family of men for 62 years and even in her passing continues to be their support and guiding light. I love her so deeply because she raised and created my favorite person in the world – my dad. It is so evident that the way he fathers and loves his two daughters is because of the way his mother raised him – to be thoughtful, giving, compassionate, and wholeheartedly present with your family. 

She used to buy me a new outfit every Christmas, take me swimming at the Broadmoor, and read to me when I was little. I felt so special with her because it felt like I was her girl — that my sister and I could be a break in the male-dominated family and take up girl space with grandma. It was like our own little club. Exclusive. We would play with the dolls and wear dresses and drink tea and spend sweet time together. In her last moments, before my Dad and uncle got home to sit with us as she passed, it was just me and my sister, reading out loud to grandma, holding her hand, sharing space, and I was reminded again of our little club – grandma and the girls – and how special that was to me and how special I knew it was to her to have granddaughters after three boys and a grandson. We had our own little community. 

She always made sure everyone was taken care of. Even in her last few days, as she couldn’t walk and I was doing more caring for her than I knew she would ever do for me again, she continued to ask small questions like: what can I get for you, are you hungry, how are you doing, etc. A favorite moment was before one of our last dinners together when she said, “Okay I’m gonna brush my hair, you brush yours, and then we’ll go.” I am so thankful for all our small and unobtrusive ways of caring for one another. I am proud to have been a part of her life and so blessed to have been loved by her. Our last few days together were challenging but sweet. Sitting together, having small conversations about nothing much, holding hands, sharing bites, watching shows. I felt so lucky to be able to be with her and give her as much of myself as I could knowing how much she gave her time and space up for others. 

One thing that always struck me was the devotion between my grandparents. They were each other's other half and have spent almost every minute together for the last 62 years. It was so beautiful to watch the way they wholeheartedly and effortlessly cared for one another. She wanted him by her side every minute of her last week because I think for her, there was no other way of being except with George, her partner. They are my example of commitment. My uncles and my dad care so incredibly deeply for her because she is the rock of their family. She is the center and the heart and will be dearly missed.  

From Matt Peacore, Marcia’s son

Mom was quite an amazing woman. There are so many things I could say about why I loved my mother, but I will highlight just a few. She was giving of her time, caring for others, kind and thoughtful, but not a pushover. She was the mother of three boys after all. She always downplayed her capabilities and accomplishments, but was strong and smart and oh, so very capable. She seemed to work effortlessly in the background orchestrating all the things to keep a house of three active boys humming along. She was not just a background participant, but was involved and actively encouraged me all through my life. I am sure it was my brothers and me who caused my mother to have grey hair early, but that only made her more beautiful with her distinctive silver hair. Most of all I will cherish how she was present for me – it always seemed like she was there when I needed her. When I was exploring my faith, it is my Mom who sat with me on our basement stairs and prayed with me. She loved me and I loved her. She was devoted to her family, creating a warm and loving home, not only for my brothers and me, but one where my friends felt welcome. Many of my friends who knew my mother reached out to me after she passed, remembering her kindness, her grilled cheese sandwiches, and what a wonderful person she was. She taught me so many things and her legacy will live on in those she touched. I know my mom was proud of my brothers and me, but Mom, I can’t tell you how proud I am to be your son, I will miss you.

From Mike Peacore, Marcia’s son

My mom was beautiful but her truest beauty was on the inside. She was a model of love, service and acceptance. I remember when she welcomed a local boy with special needs into our home and showed me what love and compassion looked like when I was young and not readily befriending all people. She was a strong and steady undercurrent, guiding our family and my life. She had an impactful outsized influence as the only woman in our family with three boys. She was constantly loving, giving and caring. She did it all. Working alongside my dad in their business. Volunteering countless hours for the church, people in need, people less fortunate and encouraging people to be active in our democracy. She volunteered and supported Christian foster care where she befriended a young girl, Daphne with love, support, and normalcy as a role model of everything she stood for. She volunteered regularly for meals on wheels and supported countless charities that were important to her. She baked hundreds of cookies for Dale House to help bring some normalcy to kids in need. Marcia traveled to Uganda to learn and support the charity Widows Work with her dear friend Beth. Many of my best attributes are from my mother. She did not take her family, community or country for granted and worked constantly to make them better. Every so often she would smile this warm playful smile and lean close to tell me I was her favorite. I never had a concern about how special I was to her. I have no doubt all of her family and friends felt the same. She was devoted and gave her family everything she had to her last breath. My mother never let me down. She was my strength and security. I will live the rest of my life to always do better and strive to make her proud. The world was a better place because of her and I am a better person having known her. I am so proud and fortunate to have her as my Mother.

I love you, Mom.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marcia Jean Peacore, please visit our floral store.