Marcia Jenison

Marcia Matteson Jenison, 82, died peacefully, March 11, 2017, at home from lung cancer with complications, with her son, Scott playing her favorites on his guitar, and her husband at her side. She was never a smoker. Her survivors are husband, F. Walter Jenison Jr., of Signal Mountain; daughter, Lisa L. Jenison, of Waitsfield Vt.; sons, Scott L. Jenison, of Signal Mountain, Dr. Mark W. Jenison (Holly), of Virginia Beach, Va.; six grandchildren, and three great- grandchildren. The family wishes to thank the medical staff at Erlanger hospital and Hearth Hospice for their compassionate care. She received a BA degree in English and History with honors from the University of Rhode Island, a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Danbury Connecticut State Teachers college, and a Masters in Speech Language Therapy from University of North Carolina at Greensboro, N.C.. She began her career in speech as an evaluator of early childhood disorders in speech language for the state of North Carolina. Upon moving to Chattanooga in 1977, she joined Team Evaluation Center, then moved to the United Cerebral Palsy Center. She also received certification in Neurological Developmental Technology at Richmond, Va. She started her own business (Associates in Communication Therapies, PC) as a sole practitioner. Over 25 years, ACT grew to a staff of 18 by the time she retired in 2003. She was an avid pianist, playing at the UU Church of Chattanooga for decades, along with performing for residents at Alexian Village and other venues. She heard about a woman in California that wrote a book on female ragtime composers in the 1920’s. She contacted the woman and received representative music. She developed a show, Women in Ragtime, and performed in various venues. She enjoyed sailing and crewed for her racing husband for 30 years. She joined him on numerous bare boat charters in the BVI, Narragansett Bay, R.I., Oriental, N.C., and Lake Champlain, Vt., along with cruise ship adventures. She and her husband enjoyed a 64 year relationship. She is gone, but the memories remain. A celebration of her life will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga 3224 Navajo Drive on April 8, 2017, from 4 to 8 p.m.