Marcy Ushimaru (neé James) was born on January 22, 1954, in Pasadena, California. She was the oldest of four children. She passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in a traffic accident on December 28, 2020, in Silverton, Oregon.

During the terrible wildfires that hit our area this year, Mt. Angel was in a Level 2 evacuation zone. We had to pack what we would need for one week in our car and be prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice. The smoke from the fire got to be so severe that we evacuated in search of clearer air towards Portland. In addition to our daily necessities, Marcy grabbed a few of her paintings, which she was planning on giving away as Christmas gifts later in the year, and her Lladro Shepherd Boy! When Marcy was in college, her friends pooled their funds out of limited college student budgets to buy the Shepherd Boy for her birthday. She was beyond touched by this generous and thoughtful gift. To her, it symbolized more than friendship. This statue became her touchstone by reflecting the love of God, steadfast friendships, and a guardian of her journey through life. The statue followed her to the convent and back, across the country (twice), and finally to its place in Mt. Angel.

The ripples of Marcy's journey through life will be present immemorial; you'll see them at her service, in the eyes of her family, her friends new and old, and in the world beyond: neighbors, her communities of watercolor artists and developmentally disabled friends, stray and orphaned animals, and truly, anyone facing life's challenges. In her honor, be kind to one another. That's her hope for us, for all of us, both human and animal. We are all those ripples; she'll live on in the stories we tell about her in years to come, and as we live that legacy of kindness.

Marcy is survived by her sister Jennifer, brother Richard, niece Elizabeth, nephew Steven, husband Kenji, and his daughters, Kristine and Kathryn. She is also survived and being missed by her uncle Bruce, Aunt Linda, Aunt Carol, and many cousins. Marcy was predeceased by her parents Judson and Elizabeth James, her sister Barbara, and her nephew Jonathan.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 8, 2021, at 1:30 PM at Unger Funeral Chapel, 229 Mill Street Silverton, OR 97381. She will be interred at Calvary Cemetery in her new hometown of Mt. Angel, with a view of Mt. Hood and beautiful sunrises.

She loved people. There were no strangers in her life. They were simply her future friends. She also loved animals, and above all else, she loved elephants. She was extremely passionate about saving elephants in Africa from illegal poaching, and she made many trips to Africa to see elephants in their natural environment. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you visit the following two elephant sanctuaries online and choose one to honor her legacy. The Elephant Sanctuary (Tennessee) www.elephants.com The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (Kenya) www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org