JAY - Marcia Belle Meader Calden, 98, of Jay, went to heaven on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2025. She passed away peacefully at the Hospice House in Auburn. Her granddaughter Wendy Hall was with her.

Marcia was born in Portland on May 25, 1926, the daughter of Clyde Hunt Meader and Mabel Peterson Meader. The family moved to Jay in 1932. Marcia attended Jay Schools. As a teenager she worked at one of the lakeside inns in Canton. In 1943 she met the love of her life, William Orman Calden, Jr. They were married on September 23, 1944. They decided to elope and a Methodist pastor in Farmington married them. The cost was $2.00. They decided to take the train from North Jay to Massachusetts to live there. They stayed for two weeks and decided to come back home.

They made their home in North Jay and East Dixfield. Then in 1953 they bought the big farm on top of Jay Hill, where Hilltop Collision Center now is and owned by their son Harvey. Marcia loved life on the farm. She was a homemaker all her life and loved every minute of it. She loved cooking and baking. She always had large vegetable gardens and canned and froze a lot of fruits and veggies. She made jams and jellies and made her own butter and cottage cheese. She was a seamstress and made beautiful clothing. She also enjoyed making mittens and doilies. She loved to entertain and one day she said she had served 72 cups of coffee to people that Dad had invited to 'stop by for a visit’. She always enjoyed being in the kitchen preparing food for their family and visitors.

Marcia was always very involved in church and was a pastor’s wife for most of her life. In 1965 they felt called into ministry and decided to sell the farm to Harvey. They moved to St. Johnsbury, VT and attended Bible college there. After graduation they pastored several Nazarene churches in Maine, including Pittsfield, Houlton, Lisbon Falls and Windham. About 1960 Marcia and Orman put their farm up as collateral, along with their dear friends Leigh and Vera Corey, so that a group of Christians in the area could buy Bear Pond Inn and turn it into a Christan Camp for teens. They called it Camp Berea and the camp is still going today. Marcia and Orman owned Caldens Meat Market in Wilton, had a logging business, and a Driving Range on their property on Jay Hill.

On occasion she had boarders in their home and a hired hand that we called Fred. There were many farm animals, including the beloved steers and oxen, sheep, a goat and cows. They also raised chickens by the thousands. Marcia especially liked the milking cow named Pansy and adored their family dog named Scooter. One pair of their oxen was bought by a movie company in California and the oxen were in the movie Way West.

Marcia was always ready to go on a trip that Dad suggested. They especially liked taking the ferry to Prince Edward Island, going to Upstate New York in the Adirondack Mountains to a Christian Camp and staying for a week or two. They owned a camp at the old Nazarene Campground in Richmond and enjoyed spending time there in the summer. They traveled to Florida too. The biggest trip they took was to England where they toured the life and times of John Wesley. Marcia also enjoyed flying the east coast with her son, Harvey and daughter-in-law, Betty from Maine to Florida on vacation. She loved shopping at Walmart and JC Penney and fine stores that she could find. She always enjoyed Sunday afternoon rides with Jane and finding an ice cream shop for “2 scoops” of ice cream and the many evenings she enjoyed watching her favorite tv shows with David.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Rev. William Orman Calden, of 57 years; her son Stephen W. Calden; her son-in-law Rev. Don C. Smith; grandson Michael Calden; and granddaughter Sierra Calden. Brothers William Meader and Lindsey Meader and sisters Eileen Currier, Natalie Bryant, Margaret Paine and Adeline Soucy.

She is survived by her sons C. Harvey Calden and wife Betty of Jay, and David O. Calden of Jay, daughter Jane G. Smith of Jay, daughter in-law Lisa Calden of FL. , grandchildren Wendy Hall and Scott of Jay, Bill Calden and Darcie of Jay, Rob Smith and Barbara of PA, Chrystal Smallwood and Jeremy of PA, Suzy Freund and Bob of OH, Shane Calden of FL, Jeffrey Calden of Jay, and Jennifer Wibberly and Matt of Bangor. Several great and great great grandchildren, also, many nieces, nephews and friends. In Marcia's words 'We had a Wonderful Life'. God is Good. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Family and Friends are invited to Marcia’s visitation on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at Wiles Remembrance Center, 308 Franklin Rd, JAY, ME from 4 to 7 pm. Her funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 1:00 pm from Calvary Baptist Church Rte. 2 E, Wilton, ME followed by a reception of fellowship. We at Wiles are honored to be caring for the family of Marcia Belle Meader Calden and invite you to visit her Book of Memories at www.wilesrc.com to leave words of comfort, reflection or sympathies.