Marcia Gaar (Johnson) Lemon

Marcia Gaar (Johnson) Lemon, 85, passed away on June 7, 2010, in Bloomington, Indiana. Born on November 3, 1924, in Richmond, Indiana, to Russell and Martha (Jones) Johnson, Marcia was descended from early Richmond pioneers Morgan Jones and Abraham Gaar. Marcia graduated from Richmond High School in 1942 and from DePauw University cum laude in 1946 with a bachelor’s degree in art education and psychology. She married James Nicholson Lemon on June 26, 1946. After raising four children, she taught nursery school and was a needlework instructor before becoming the third director of the Richmond Art Museum from 1976 to 1981. She was most proud of establishing the children’s experiencing exhibit and building the endowment fund and publishing Art in Richmond, 1898-1978. In addition to her tenure as director, she was a 30-year volunteer at the Museum, including service on the Board of Trustees and many committees. In 1998 she was honored as a Sagamore of the Wabash for her work at the Museum. A lifelong library patron and advocate, she was a charter member of the Friends of the Morrisson-Reeves Library. She established the Lemon Family Scholarship at DePauw University, which supports international travel for students in the arts. She was also a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority, Tourist Club, Collegiate Club, and Heritage Club. Marcia lived her life with relish. She grew up at the Draver’s Swimming Pool and spent her adult summers at the Elks Club pool. As a college student, she worked as a counselor at Camp Clements; she spent many wonderful Labor Day weekends there with her own children and the Y’s Men. She often talked about singing at the top of her lungs while inspecting piston rings at Perfect Circle during World War II. She and her husband Jim were devoted bridge partners, world travelers, and excellent hosts to a wide circle of friends. She employed her artistic skills as a dressmaker, knitter, embroiderer, lapidarist, silversmith, and in her annual lemon-themed Christmas cards. Her Halloween costumes were the hit of many parties, in Richmond and in Bloomington. She is survived by four children, Sara Laughlin (Tim Laughlin), Bloomington, Indiana, Alice Lemon (Richard Kingsland), Encinitas, California, James Lemon, Palo Alto, California, and Ann Lemon (Dane Burkhart), Mohnton, Pennsylvania; and four grandchildren, Isaac Laughlin, Hannah Laughlin, Nicole Kingsland and Amos Burkhart. Her husband Jim and sister Rose predeceased her. Burial was in the Earlham Cemetery. A memorial service honoring Marcia will be held at 2:30 p.m. on July 3, 2010, at Bell Trace, 800 Bell Trace Circle, Bloomington, IN, and in Richmond on August 28, 2010, at the Richmond Art Museum, time to be announced. Memorial contributions may be made to Richmond Art Museum, 350 Hub Etchison Parkway, Richmond, IN 47374 or Morrisson-Reeves Library, 80 North 6th Street, Richmond, IN. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at www.doanmillsfuneralhome.com

Marcia Gaar (Johnson) Lemon

November 3, 1924 - June 7, 2010