Cora Marcum

Published 10:14 am Thursday, October 5, 2017

– Cora May Stearns Marcum – “STOP, SIT AND TAKE IN THE MOMENT – IT’S HERE ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME,” is a hand-written note found in Cora’s Bible.

Cora May Marcum went peacefully to be with the Lord on August 30, 2017, in Sisters, Oregon. She joyfully joins her husband, Don, and many other loved ones in Heaven. Cora was born to Rose Ella and Leo Stearns on May 17, 1929, in Moretown, Vermont. She had six siblings, Frank, Merton, Anne, Leo, Edwin, and Evelyn.

Cora graduated in 1947 from Spalding High School in Barre, Vermont, where she enjoyed theater. After high school, Cora attended New England Deaconess School of Nursing in Boston, Massachusetts. She was certified in neuropsychiatric nursing and received her RN degree in 1951. While studying for her RN, she was involved with volunteer work and the Glee Club.

During nursing school, Cora met the love of her life, Don Marcum, who was studying at Gordon Divinity School. They married on June 2, 1951, in Boston after the couple finished their undergraduate studies. The newlyweds moved to Denver where Don continued his master’s studies and Cora began her nursing career. Later, the couple had a daughter, Corinne, and a son, David.

Don and Cora returned to Boston, where they were commissioned as missionaries by the Park Street Baptist Church to San Jose, Costa Rica, in 1957. They returned to the states in 1962. After living in Florida, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, they settled in Wheaton, Illinois. They had another daughter, Sandra. In 2003, Don and Cora moved to The Pines in Sisters, Oregon.

Cora enjoyed her nursing at Geneva Hospital and Central DuPage Hospital in Illinois. She concluded her nursing career doing private care nursing.

Cora had many loves. First was her love for the Lord. She sang in many choirs. She especially enjoyed the Wheaton Bible Church Choir, where they had made several recordings.

Cora and Don were avid organic gardeners. Cora canned the harvests, providing vegetables for the year. She enjoyed making bread and yogurt. The couple enjoyed long evening walks with their dog. Camping, hiking, fishing, bird watching, and sewing were her other favorites.

Cora was loved by her family and is survived by her children and their spouses, Corinne and Don Pray; David and Kathy Marcum; and Sandi and John Adams; her grandchildren, Shawn, Chere, Nikki, Brett, Anna, Mariel, Amber, Jennifer, and Samantha; and her great-grandchildren, Darian, Sadee, Alyssa, Brody, Colton, Charlee, William, and Violet.