Floyd "Marc" George Marcusson

Floyd "Marc" George Marcusson died on December 6, 2017, just 18 days short of his 96th birthday, surrounded by family in the home he built for them in Fallbrook, California. "Keep moving, and they won't plant you," was his credo, and that he did - living a large life, in a quiet way,

Floyd was born in Tacoma, Washington on December 24,1921 to parents who emigrated from Norway. Growing up during the depression, Floyd spent his out-of-school time with his many childhood friends having all sorts of adventures, including roaming about Point Defiance and sneaking into movie theaters to watch a Saturday matinee. A stellar school career was in opposition to Floyd's desire to move and explore. Thankfully, he found baseball during his time at Tacoma's Stadium High School developing "an arm like a rifle." Baseball became a constant in his life, playing in the minor leagues in Washington and later coaching his sons' baseball teams until well into his late 50's.

In 1939, Floyd graduated from high school and spent the next years working and playing ball. After Pearl Harbor, Floyd joined the Army Air Corps in 1942 and was assigned as an upper turret gunner on board a B-17 "Flying Fortress", joining the 560th Bomb Squadron of the 388th Bomb Group. He flew an incredible 29 missions over Europe – the average before being shot down was 9. He was awarded an Air Corps membership in the "Lucky Bastard Club," along with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Four Oak Leaf Clusters, and the European Theater ribbon with two battle stars, ending his enlistment in 1944 as a technical sergeant. His two years fighting beside others in WWII left a lasting impression on him.

When the GI Bill was passed, Floyd took advantage of it and moved to sunny Southern California, graduating from USC in 1950 with a degree in political science. History, and politics, interested him all his life and he was an avid reader of nonfiction. Floyd worked for some time in the political arena after graduation, campaigning heavily for Harry S. Truman and Pat Brown, in their respective candidacies for President and California governor. In a booming Southern California, Floyd decided he could best make his living selling real estate. During his career, he moved from selling real estate to housing developments and land investment, working as the planning commissioner for the City of Bellflower, a suburb of Los Angeles for several years.

However, the most important change in his life at that time was meeting his future wife, Nancy Annette Baker. They married in 1956 and raised six children, one of Nancy's from a previous marriage and five of their own. Floyd and Nancy were extraordinary parents, helping their children discover and hone their native interests, taking them to cultural events and museums, on travels and encouraging them as best they could. Seeking a less urban environment for their children, Floyd and Nancy moved to Fallbrook in 1972, where their children graduated from high school.

As empty nesters, Floyd and Nancy would drive out to the Grand Canyon on a whim to watch the full moon rise as they cuddled together at the canyon's rim. Floyd became interested in higher altitude mountain trekking and would walk by himself up to 12,000 feet on day trips into his 70's, while Nancy would design hearts on the trail using rocks, sticks and flowers with their initials inside them so Floyd would find them on his way back to her. Floyd joined Nancy in her genealogical quests, sleuthing through archives, visiting family grave sites and places around the country where her ancestors had lived. Along the way, they would visit national parks, historical battlefields and, always, their beloved family. They would come home to meet with their breakfast friends at the Garden Center Café in Fallbrook.

After his beloved wife passed in June of 2012, somehow, Floyd was able to reinvent himself amidst his great grief, choosing to live alone most of the year, but also visiting and traveling with his many children, including a trip to Norway to meet his newly discovered cousins and another to Banff, Canada with his youngest son.

Floyd was preceded in death by his parents, Mathea and Isaac Marcusson; siblings Nels Marcusson, Ruth Booth, Frank Marcusson, Florence Marcusson, Ida Rosenow and Mabel Dombrowski and great-grandson, Brian K. Lee. He is survived by his children, Paulette Eby (Donald) Smith, Cynthia Marcusson, Lisa Marcusson (Bryant Smith), Maria Marcusson, Matthew Marcusson (Jose Maria Figueras) and Eric Marcusson (Sam Law); grandchildren, Jon S. Smith, Elizabeth Smith (Sean) Lee; Kyle and Hanna Marcusson Smith and Mathea and Hallie Marcusson Zava; and great-grandsons Nicholas and Timothy Lee, and a brother Melvin Marcusson.

Floyd will be interned with his beloved Nancy in Tahoma National Cemetery inKent, Washington, in a ceremony with military honors on February 16. The familywill have a memorial celebration of Floyd's life in Tacoma on February 17.

Floyd will be remembered by family and friends for his quick wit, love of desserts, steadfast loyalty, his throwing arm, love and support, and a heart as big as the open skies he once flew in and hiked under.

Floyd will be forever missed though his family is glad he is once again with the love of his life, Nancy.