Marcia passed May 20, 2026, from incidents of age. Mom was born January 1, 1943, in Brigham City, Utah to Alma Parker and Grace Madsen Pratt. Her father was “somewhere in the Pacific” serving his country during World War II at the time of her birth. Her mom just prayed he was still living. For two years, mom’s dad was the man in the picture on the piano. It took coaxing on grandpa’s part to get her to not be shy and learn that her dad was now the man in the living room instead of just a picture.
Mom moved with her family shortly after grandpa returned from war to Ventura County, California where grandpa worked as a Civilian Engineer for the Government. At about age 14, they moved to Kailua, Hawaii when grandpa accepted the role of Civil Engineer overseeing the building of the Arizona Memorial. Mom lived in Hawaii, finished secondary school and attended two years of Church College of Hawaii, now BYU Hawaii. In 1962 mom moved to Southern California, where she met and married Max A Newell on February 2, 1963. Marriage later solemnized in the Los Angeles Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Mom and Dad were blessed with seven children. As a family, Mom and Dad lived in Southern California (mainly Ventura County) and Northern Utah (West Valley City, Cove Fort, Tooele and most recently Spanish Fork).
Mom was an accomplished seamstress, quilter and enjoyed knitting. She was an avid reader and never seemed to be without several books from the library.
Mom was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Richard (Pete) Pratt, Donald Pratt and one sister, Christine Pratt Gonzales and daughter in law Tamara Smith Newell. Along with her parents-in-law, LaVere and Agnes Newell, Egeo and Claribell Gabasa, 2 brothers-in-law and a sister-in-law. She is survived by her beloved husband, Max, children Steven (Melanie), Melanie (Curtis) Castagno, Douglas (Brynn), Kathleen (Devin) Ladle, Sean (Linnae), Joshua (Adrianna) and Cynthia Newell. 29 cherished grandchildren, and 28 equally cherished great-grandchildren. Two sisters, Gail Pratt Wasden and Laura Lee Pratt Edwards, along with many nieces, nephews, and cherished friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held May 29th, 2026, at the Tooele 4th Ward Chapel, 192 West 200 South, Tooele, Utah. A viewing will precede services at 9:30-10:45 am with the funeral following at 11 am.
Our Family wishes to thank all those at Legacy Assisted Living in Spanish Fork and Renew Hospice for their kind and attentive service to our mom in her final days.
We Love you, Mom! Aloha Oé. Until we meet again…
Those wishing to stream the services here is the zoom link:
8 Responses
I will miss Marsha so much. I’m so grateful Chuck and I were able to have a wonderful visit with her about a month ago. We’ve enjoyed Marsha and Max as we’ve been in the Tooele 4th and 14th wards with them
Thank you for your love and friendship to mom and dad!
Marcia was a fun, sweet woman!! She was kinda like a second mom when Melanie (Castagno) and I were teenagers goofing around together. She sewed many of the brides maids dresses for my wedding. She did a LOT of things for me and I’ll appreciate and love her always.
Lots of prayers and love to the Newell family.
Marianne Stout Heaton
Thank you for remembering mom and sharing your memories. Love you!
Thank you Marianne!
It’s been long time since I’ve seen any of you , but you are in my heart and I have very fond memories of all of you. Marcia was very special to me. Her testimony was strong and true and she had a great knowledge of the gospel, and a desire to live it. We had numerous discussions on gospel subjects and I learned a lot from her. I am sorry that she is not here anymore but grateful that I am one of the lucky ones who got to know her. The lord’s Peace to you all at this sorrowful time
Thank you Janet!
We truly enjoyed and appreciate Marcia and Max and their friendship and association over the 2-plus decades we lived in their Ward and neighborhood in West Valley. Such fond memories —Marcia was an excellent and superior teacher in Church–she never used notes, and gave remarkable and intelligent comments. Our children share memories of their family, many the same age as theirs. We extend our sincere condolences and love to Max and their children/posterity.