Katy Marsh, Madison

I made it through the pearly gates and there are horses up here! I was born on November 29, 1996, I passed on October 2, 2021 in the loving arms of my parents after complications with extended “long Covid”.

(Her bright smile and the twinkle in her eye left an indelible mark on all who met her, as did her boundless kindness, empathy and compassion.)

What a life I had! I was totally blessed having my Mom Cathy and Dad Rockwell Marsh of Madison. I earned the nickname “Smiley” as an infant because my wide bright smile could be seen before the rest of me entered a room.

Together with Eric, aka the “best brother in the world”, I spent my life “salty”. I was “forced” to sail dinghies at Pettipaug Yacht Club. I earned my CT boater’s license. Our sailing parents plopped us aboard “Sirens Song”, our 42 foot sloop and we explored the NE coast with the Baldwin Yacht Club. Great Salt Pond was my favorite mooring field with Oak Bluffs a close second!

Our family had adventures skiing Stowe, Okemo, & Pico. We snowshoed at Trapp Family Lodge, hiking in Acadia, tenting in the White Mountains, covered bridge searching in Vermont, visiting Grampy in Naples, boat shows in Newport, discovering Disney, eating conch in the Bahamas, speaking Spanish in Barcelona too! We visited almost all the Lighthouses on the coast of Maine and were frequently over on Nantucket, the Vineyard and Cuttyhunk.

At age 8, my mom made the mistake of putting me in a saddle. I wound up a talented hunter jumper riding at Cedar Brook Farm, Westbrook Hunt Club, and at Mystic Valley where I participated on the IEA Team during high school. I got to gallop on Hammonassett beach for my 12th birthday! I became a CHJA Hunter Jumper Finalist during hurricane warnings! I taught young equestrians at Five Star Performance and volunteered at High Hopes Therapeutic Center in Old Lyme. ( I found Buddy, Appledapples and Flower Mim! Dad- they have tall boots in my size and I’m jumping 3’) At a clinic long ago George Morris once exclaimed about me “that girl was born to ride”.

I loved my friends, my red Jeep, my F-150, horses, hosting parties, decorating, videography, hydroponics, renting Airbnb’s, 80s music, chickens, ordering online, investing, eating baked potatoes and clams casino, raising very rare indoor plants, learning about mushrooms, riding our John Deere Gator, wearing my Tim boots, reading, growing herbs, performing on stage at DHHS and applying tons of finger nail polish.

I attended St Lawrence University where I was a celebrated writing center tutor. I froze in my Sorrel boots but visited Ottawa, Quebec City and Montreal. Loved Montreal! I moved to NYC and transferred and graduated from Brooklyn College. I frequented the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens loving the Bonsai displays. I braved the subways working in Manhattan. As a Senior Business Development Representative at Planful, I sold financial and accounting software at the C level. Their KPI top performer, I was asked to train sharing my “secret sauce”. Business trips took me out West to Scottsdale and on the last, in San Diego, I contracted Covid’s Delta variation and I struggled to rebound.

I leave behind the best parents in the whole world, my beloved brother Eric, our “Dinghy dog” Dodger, my cats Cuddles, Mishka and pup Laika. My loving Aunt Judy, cousins Rusty, Kim, Yo, Andrew, Anna. Bill & Andrea Creaser, Barb & Ken Cook and Tom & Mary Creaser. James, Caroline, Diana, Eileen and Anna. I’ll miss my beloved friends who sat around my fire pit and all my barn friends. I was predecessed by Grandparents Bill and Eileen Creaser and Theron and Minsi Marsh and cousin Scott Wutkiewicz.

Live. Love. Hug. Smile. Remember “Twas heaven here with you”.

If you want to remember me with a donation please consider Army’s Legacy Animal Rescue in Bristol, CT. This is where I got my pup. https://armyslegacy.org/donate/

My memorial service was held on 10/16/21 at the First Congregational Church. Burial was at West Cemetery.