Marsha Susan (Brown) Gagnon of Dreamers Way, Oak Bluffs, passed away at home, surrounded by loved ones, on April 16, 2026, due to a lengthy illness. She had been in the care of the Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard at home for some time.
Marsha was born in Arlington on March 31, 1949, to Anne Beatrice (Yelland) Brown and Ralph “Buster” Brown. She was the paternal granddaughter of Captain St. Claire and Elizabeth (Moorehouse) Brown of Edgartown, and maternal granddaughter of Elwin and Ethel (Elwell) Yelland.
Marsha attended Fitchburg State College. She married Leo Joseph Gagnon on March 16, 1972, in Hudson, N.H. Leo was always her compass in life; his wisdom and guidance were not to be denied. “He is my best friend,” she would tell her children fondly. They were an exceptional team in any endeavor they took on.
Marsha got her energy and peacekeeping abilities from her lifelong trips to the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard, where she would go between school years and eventually end up settling. She worked for a time for Polaroid, Sanders Associates, and the Nashua School District before relocating to Oak Bluffs. She enjoyed art, antiquing, furniture restoration, home remodeling, and being creative through self-expression. On her path of creativity, with the help of her sister Pam Quimby’s talents, the two joined forces and began their own decorative painting and wallpapering business. Many homes in southern New Hampshire were blessed with their insights.
Marsha found her love for life through her husband Leo, and her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She always looked at situations as “the glass is half full” so as not to focus on all the negative aspects there are in the world.
She would usually greet the day with a happy or silly song that seemed to be meant for you only. Her apparent goal in life was to be the best possible mother and caretaker for her family that she could. Marsha would be your biggest fan. Her zest for her children and life led her down many roads — one being a cafeteria manager for Fairgrounds and Bicentennial elementary schools in Nashua, N.H.
Marsha was also a big animal lover. From the first family pet to the last, her kindness extended to rescuing those that desperately needed a warm, safe, and loving home. Her King Charles Cavalier, Bandit, lay by her side for days until she passed.
Marsha is survived by her sisters, Sandra (Brown) Cournoyer and Pamela (Brown) Quimby, both of Oak Bluffs; her devoted husband of 54 years, Leo Joseph Gagnon; daughters Jennifer (Gagnon) Whitney and her husband Joseph of Vero Beach, Fla., and Alyson Gagnon of Nashua, N.H.; grandchildren Chelsea Sylvain of Wauregan, Conn., Sheridan (Sylvain) Ali and her husband Santiago of Manchester, N.H., and Connor Gagnon of Nashua, N.H.; and great-grandchildren, siblings Bryce Gagnon and Quinton Legacy, and Ahzira Ali.
Services will be held at a later date this fall.