Merceda Elizabeth Olson, “The Banana Bread Lady of Port Orchard,” is now baking her delights in God’s Heavenly Kitchen.

Marci passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tacoma following a stroke and a brain tumor.

Marci was known around Port Orchard for her wonderful banana bread, which she gave to people who helped her and to anyone she liked.

At the time of her passing, she was being cared for by her daughter Debra at her home in Federal Way.

Marci was raised in Aberdeen, South Dakota. She was one of nine children born to George Alvin and Adeline Mary (Mullenberg) Sihrer.

On Aug. 23, 1950, she married Donald Bryon Olson in South Dakota. They were married for 56 years before Don’s passing in March 2007.

Don and Marci welcomed their first child, Donald Dana, in August 1951. With baby Donald in tow, the little family moved to Bremerton, where Don became employed by the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Their second child, Roger Oscar, came bouncing along in December 1952. In May 1954, Don and Marci welcomed their first daughter, Debra Mary. She was followed by her sister, Rhonda Georgia, in December 1955. At some point during that time, the Olson family moved to Port Orchard.

Marci never had a dull moment with four children of her own, and she was also the neighborhood “mom.”

The Olson home was soon the gathering place for all her children’s friends. Don and Marci also took in friends of their children who didn’t have a good home life.

Marci was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings, her husband (Donald B. Olson), youngest son (Roger O. Olson), and youngest daughter (Rhonda G. Desmond).

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Marci’s name to The American Cancer Society or to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.