Marie Ellen Hussey passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, February 18, surrounded by her family, unwavering love and God’s infinite grace. A devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, she leaves behind a legacy of resilience, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to sharing her God given talents to help others. She will be remembered for her kind spirit, determination, creativity, and her deep devotion to faith, family, and community.
Born in May 1950 to loving parents, Marianne and Robert Trail, Marie was a remarkable woman whose life was defined by her passion for science, music, personal growth and serving others. From an early age, she had dreams of becoming a scientist and a singer, ultimately achieving both aspirations with remarkable dedication. She was born in Miami, Florida and lived with her parents and three younger sisters; Diana, Linda and Karen. She developed her love of music at an early age and enjoyed singing with her sisters in the church choir.
Her academic journey began at the University of Florida from 1968 to 1972 and was marked by extraordinary determination, exemplified by her commitment to completing her education by taking a Greyhound bus two hours each way daily for an entire year in 1971. After marrying in 1970, she transferred to the newly opened University of North Florida from 1972 to 1974, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. After graduation from the University of North Florida, she accepted a job at the Naval Aviation Depot as an analytical chemist and went on to have two wonderful daughters, Elizabeth and Allyson, whom she lovingly described as her “mini-me” and her “vivacious one.” She continued pursuing her love of music, becoming a member of the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus and various church choirs.
In 1988, while at the Naval Aviation Depot, she changed careers and became an environmental engineer. As a pioneering environmental professional, Marie was recruited by the Naval Inspector General’s Environmental Inspection Team in 1992, traveling the world and helping to usher in a new era of pollution prevention for the US Navy. In 1994, Marie moved to Maryland and continued her career as the head of the Environmental Program at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Carderock, Maryland.
In January 2000, she married Walter, the love of her life, and beautifully expanded her family to include step-daughters Fonda, Shannon, and Amanda, creating new traditions and deep connections. Walter and Marie further expanded their family by adopting two rescue beagles, Kibbles and Lillie, who they loved and spoiled relentlessly.
Eventually, Marie’s career evolved from scientific and engineering roles to a profound focus on organizational development and helping people transform their behavior, a journey that required her own significant personal growth. She attended Johns Hopkins University from 2006 to 2009 where she earned her Masters of Science in organizational development.
After retiring, Marie and Walter settled in the small community of Palmyra, VA in 2012, where they bought a home and affectionately named it the “Wabbit Whole,” which captured the essence of their life together. She embraced rural life with enthusiasm, becoming a Master Gardener, volunteering in her community and church, and eventually adopting two more rescue beagles, Cooper and Maggie. She found immense joy in simple pleasures like gardening, canning, and walking dogs. Marie was blessed with ten grandchildren: Casey, Kelly, Haley, Taylor, Zachary, Abigail, Kendall, Dean, Jordi, and Arlo, who were a source of tremendous joy and pride. She and Walter enjoyed hosting family visits at Wabbit Whole and embracing annual traditions such as the Fluvanna County Fair, Thanksgiving Saturday barbeque dinners, and performing “The Night Before Christmas” for the grandkids.
Throughout her life, Marie remained committed to continuous learning, personal development, and making a meaningful impact on the world around her through volunteering and giving back to the community. She shared her God given talents to help others in both her professional and personal life, and she will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 1, at 11 a.m. at Cunningham United Methodist Church at 3389 Thomas Jefferson Parkway in Palmyra, VA. In lieu of flowers, donations in Marie’s memory can be made to Cunningham United Methodist Church or Hospice of the Piedmont.