Marion L Liebert

Marion was a lifelong resident of Louisville. She was born at Deaconess Hospital and baptized at St. John’s Evangelical Church at the corner of Market and Clay Streets. Marion held fond memories of growing up in Butchertown in an extended family home with her parents, her sister, and her grandparents. Her grandfather operated a barbershop on the first floor of their Mellwood Avenue home, just two doors from Spring Street. Her grandmother would prepare meals for her husband’s customers. Marion ran across the Beargrass Creek bridge at Spring Street to meet her father when he returned home from work.

She graduated from Atherton High School for Girls in 1950. In her high school memory book, she wrote about the future, “Becoming an old maid!!” Anyone who knew Marion would not be surprised she made a decision at 18 and stuck with it. “Old maid,” however, just isn’t the right term. Sorry Marion! She was an indomitable woman and a force to be reckoned with. She made her way in the world and enjoyed success and life on her own terms.

Marion had a very strong work ethic. If you ever wanted to get something done, you gave it to Marion to do. And, if you got in Marion’s way when she was trying to get something done, you would quickly know you had made a poor decision.

For many years, Marion worked as an administrator at South Central Bell Telephone. She first brought her excellent work to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) starting with the Joint Office of Worship at the Louisville Presbyterian Seminary. After 12 years there, Marion moved to the Presbyterian Center when the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) brought its national offices to Louisville in 1988. It was an exciting time for the church and for Louisville. An article in the Presbyterian Outlook notes Marion was the first person to be hired as a full-time staff member for the Presbyterian Center at Louisville.

For almost 10 years, Marion worked in administration for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly Council (now the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board). Marion, along with her staff members, planned and executed meetings throughout the United States and the world. These large and complex meetings demanded attention to detail, a strong will, and a good sense of humor. Marion thrived.

While Marion was always busy, precise, and organized for General Assembly Council meetings, she also enjoyed the opportunity to visit new locations and see the world (especially Presbyterian mission efforts). In addition to many, many cities in the continental U.S., she also organized Council meetings and trips to Alaska, Switzerland, and South Korea. Immediately

after her retirement in 1998, Marion volunteered for the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh and studied at the University of Edinburgh. She cherished that time.

Although Marion was at many church functions, she did not wear her faith on her sleeve. She was quietly devout. When Marion moved from her home to the Episcopal Church Home in 2023, the book she needed first was her well-worn daily devotional.

Speaking of books, Marion was a voracious reader. She enjoyed mysteries the most but read topics across the board. In her home reading room, the bookshelves were double wide and stacked double deep with her books. She had strong feelings about turning the corner down on the page of a book (don’t) and keeping the dust covers on (do).

Marion was an animal lover, both wild and domestic. Dogs were her favorite. Schnapps was her beloved dachshund and she kept a photo of him on her refrigerator long after his passing. When neighbors walked their dogs by her home, she always enjoyed visiting the pups. If you would like to make a gift in Marion’s memory, please consider the Kentucky Humane Society, 1000 Lyndon Lane, Suite B, Louisville, Kentucky 40222 or the Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevillian Way, Louisville, Kentucky 40213.

Marion was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Margaret (Bauer) Liebert. Her sister, Carol Jean (Liebert) Brannock, also predeceased her.