Marcia Anne Bailey

We are sad to announce the passing of Marcia Anne Bailey, 86, of Burnsville, NC, on May 4, 2023 in Asheville, NC at her daughter’s home. She was born in Penland to the late Kathleen Lyon and Harry Bailey Jr.. She was preceded in death by her brothers Dick and Tommy Bailey.

Marcia was a loving, compassionate mom to 3 children. She is survived by her daughter Alicia Swaringen, sons David and Eric Swaringen and grandsons James and Easton Swaringen. She was married to the late David Dale Swaringen of Charlotte until 1977.

She played basketball at Bowman High School in Bakersville and attended High Point College, where she was crowned Dream Girl by the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. She worked as a secretary at Charlotte Piedmont Community College and a Mary Kay sales rep. She earned a CDL license and became tractor trailer truck driver driving all over North America before becoming a beloved massage therapist in Charlotte, Huntersville and Burnsville for 40 years.

Marcia loved animals, nature, gardening and supported many environmental and wildlife organizations. Her whole life she fed the birds, hummingbirds and at one chapter of her life, raccoons. She was an avid reader and regular patron of the Huntersville and Burnsville libraries, as well as having an extensive book collection. She loved giving people books, sharing her knowledge, especially health issues, and clipping articles and sending them to her loved ones on subjects far and wide.

She had a wide circle of friends and family that she corresponded with hand written letters and cards. She was a shining light that brightened everybody’s day that spent time with her. Marcia was the epitome of unconditional love, which she showered on her family, friends and clients. She made friends every where she went and loved to travel, both across the country to see her daughter, as well as to her sons’ homes, and even to other countries. She also had a mischievous and fiery side which could get ignited on political subjects. She was a member of the Grannies for Peace and would sing songs with them in downtown Burnsville. Marcia was a member of the Huntersville United Methodist Church Choir, went wild water rafting with the Wonderful Women of Charlotte and volunteered at the Food Co-op of Celo for many years. She also was the driving force behind getting the Penland Post Office designated on the Historical Registry and was a founding board member of the Penland Post Office Project.

Marcia will be sorely missed by all who loved and knew her.

Her memorial will be May 13 at 1pm at Asheville Area Alternative Funeral and Cremation Services at 702 Riverside Drive. We will also have a memorial service in Celo, NC in the near future. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Yancey County Humane Society, The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and The Penland Post Office Project.

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