Marcea Friend Hefner

Marcea Friend Hefner passed away on September 2nd, 2015 at Westside Garden Plaza. Reflecting recently she noted that she did not wish to be remembered for living so long. Her pleasure and pride was in family and friends and she had many of each. Her "never met a stranger" approach and positive attitude throughout her life was an example for all.

Marcea was born June 25th, 1917, in her grandmother's home in North Manchester, IN to Esta May (Workman) and Justice Quinter Friend. During her early years the family lived in Colorado Springs, where her brother Jerry was born in 1920, and in Chicago where she started grade school. At mid-year of first grade she was moved to second grade; consequently she was often the youngest in her class.

After her parents divorced when she was 7, her mother and the two children made their home with her maternal grandparents in North Manchester where she attended grade and high school and graduated from Manchester College in 1938. During their growing up years she and her brother spent summers with their paternal grandparents on their farm near Lodi, Ohio.

She was proud of working her way through Manchester college without any debts and also pleased that her son, two granddaughters and grandson-in-law were third and fourth generation Manchester graduates.

Following college graduation she moved to Indianapolis where she met Harold William Hefner at Banner Whitehill where both were employed. They married in North Manchester on April 5th, 1941 and began life in Indianapolis where she worked for Indiana Bell as a service representative.

Marcea was an involved wife and homemaker during the growing up years of her three children-- Linda, Janet and Hal. She was an active leader in naming of Ernie Pyle School #90, a Girl Scout troop leader, a member of Zion United Church of Christ, active square dancer, Lioness Club officer and a member of Queen Esther Chapter of Eastern Star. They lived in Indianapolis until 1959 when they moved to Speedway.

Marcea was also a dedicated professional. In 1958 she began working at the Indiana University School of Dentistry and completed a second undergraduate degree in Medical Records Management in 1966 and became a Registered Records Administrator. She became an instructor in Medical Records and completed a Masters Degree in Instructional Design at Indiana University. In 1973 she and Harold moved to Florida where she was Director of Medical Records at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach for 10 years before she retired. She did consulting in medical records before returning to Indianapolis in 1984 and for a year after their return. During her professional years she held a number of offices in state and national groups of the American Medical Record Association and she and Harold enjoyed traveling to meetings in various parts of the country and abroad.

When they returned from Florida she and Harold lived in Speedway before moving to Brownsburg in 1987. He passed away in 1988. Back in Indiana Marcea was a volunteer at Riley Hospital, active member of Zion United Church of Christ and participated in a number of community and health related groups. From 1990 until she moved to Westside Garden Plaza she worked at the Brownsburg Walmart as a greeter where shoppers became friends and her youthful appearance was often a topic of discussion. She joined Calvary United Methodist Church and continued her Christian involvement there.

Surviving Marcea are her children and their spouses: Linda and Ray Muston, Iowa City, IA; Janet and Pete Samples, Wiliamstown, KY; and Hal and Pat Hefner, Brownsburg, IN. She had eight grandchildren: Chip and Rex Muston, Joy Muston Miller, Scott and Barry Seibert; Marc and Matthew Hefner, and Lynn Hefner Eriks. She also has 15 great grandchildren: Zachary, Madeline, and Emma Miller, Audrey and Sophia Muston, Connor, Cameron and Kyla Muston, Zoey and Tatum Seibert, Lexi Hefner, Lauren and Michael Hefner, and Rachel and David Eriks. she was preceded in death by her parents, brother and husband.

Marcea will be loved and missed by those who knew how gracious and kind she was to everyone she met.