Marsha Page-Poore

Marsha Page-Poore, accomplished occupational therapist, artist, and beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend, died Friday, January 28th , 2022 after her long journey with multiple myeloma. She fought this relentless disease with grace and was determined to live. She was 77 years old. Marsha was born on March 6, 1944, in Harrison Township, Michigan to a proud Kingsley Hammond Page and Margaret Janice (Goodell) Page. She graduated from Walled Lake High School in 1962 and went to Eastern Michigan University to study occupational therapy. She graduated from EMU in 1966, where she was in the Pi Theta Epsilon honors society and Adahi, a women’s honorary club. Being an occupational therapist with people with autism and developmental disabilities became her life’s work and gave her meaning and purpose through her last days. Marsha began working with High Point School (Washtenaw Intermediate School District) in 1975 through a partnership with the University of Michigan. She worked at the WISD in a variety of ways over the past 47 years, including full-time, as a consultant, and most recently, part-time with the young adult community-based programs. Her OT work history also includes Ypsilanti State Hospital, the Lyle Torrent Center in Jackson County, and the State of Tennessee. She was an expert in sensory integration and a pioneer in designing person-centered, meaningful interventions. She was sought out for her wisdom, creativity, and ability to address difficult behaviors with great success. She touched the hearts of so many people - staff, parents, students alike. She improved the quality of life of students that needed extensive support. Marsha was “work mom” to many and an anchor at the WISD’s Red Oak Young Adult Program, especially during this challenging time of providing education during a pandemic. Marsha had a way of making people feel loved and welcomed unconditionally. People in her presence knew they were loved, cherished, and believed in. She had a gift of seeing a person’s potential, whether family, friend, colleague, or student, and she stood beside them encouraging their growth. Somehow, she believed in a person so strongly that they believed in themselves. Marsha gave the best hugs. Marsha was a proud mom and grandmother. She went to every play, football game, cheerleading competition, concert, graduation, track meet, wedding, and event that she could, rarely missing a chance to cheer on her family and brag about their accomplishments. She and Wayne hosted many wonderful family events and surrounded themselves with those they loved. Marsha leaves behind her adoring husband, Wayne Poore, her sons: Joe (Marie) LaVasseur, Dale (Tammy) LaVasseur, Jeff (Debbie) Poore, her daughters: Andrea Weid, Jamie (Seth) Hartung, Stacy (Paul) Gregorio, her sister: Kaye Perkins, her 17 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly. She is preceded in death by her father, Kingsley, her mother, Janice, and her nephew, Matthew Weid. There are no words that can capture the loss felt in many circles when Marsha left this life and those she loved. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the Celebration of Life in her honor that was to be held on Sunday, February 6th at the Old Mill in Dundee, Michigan, has been postponed, and will be rescheduled at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Lenawee Therapeutic Riding 4H Club or to the WISD Parent Student Organization to support the students that she dedicated her life to working with.  Donations may be mailed  directly to:

Lenawee Therapeutic Riding 4H Club

Checks payable to:

Lenawee Therapeutic Riding (memo In Memory of Marsha Page-Poore)

PO Box 771

Adrian, MI 49221

Washtenaw Intermediate School District PSO

Checks payable to:

WISD PSO (memo In Memory of Marsha Page-Poore)

Mailed to:

Lori Martin c/o Red Oak

850 Red Oak

Ann Arbor, MI 48103

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Marsha Page-Poore, please visit our Tree Store.