Marc “Marco” Arsene Demers, 76, passed away January 3, 2025 at Peace Hospice in Great Falls, MT from COPD and congestive heart failure. He was born December 2, 1948 in Dover, NH the 4th of 5 children to Roland Demers Sr. and Laurence Bouchard. Marco grew up in a loving French/Canadian household. He often spoke of his grandmother, who was blind, living with them. Marco would take her to the movies and translate into French what was being said. The mischievous side of his boyhood caused him to borrow
his grandmother’s glass eye from her bedside table and glue it to his forehead to get a reaction out of his classmates. Marco also talked about his mother tying him with a line to the clothesline so he would stay nearby, yet he managed to unhook himself and walk to the movie theater where the attendant would regularly let him in free of charge.
After attending St. Charles Catholic School, Horne Street School, and Dover High School, Marco joined the U.S. Army in 1965 at the age of 17, serving in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne.
Marco married Lynn Miller in 1967. Lynn had a son, Chris Tsoronis, who Marco loved as his own. The 10 year union also welcomed two children, Matthew and Heather. The family lived in DeLand, FL for a time where Jack Eckerd, owner of Eckerd Drugs, took Marco under his wing and taught him pharmaceutical sales. His next adventure would bring him to the “Happiest Place on Earth.” Being a part of the Grand Opening of Walt Disney World in Orlando in 1971 was a highlight of his life. He talked fondly of Glenn Campbell and being in charge of his hairspray in addition to captaining the Admiral Joe Fowler riverboat.
Marco was not known to stay in one place for long, with his modes of transportation often being hitchhiking or hopping trains. This brought countless experiences that shaped the unique individual he was. In 1976 he ventured on a cross-country horseback trip to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy. His trip culminated in California with him and his horse Whiskey as guests on the Johnny Carson show followed up by a photo shoot for a Chippewa boot ad in the Easy Rider magazine.
Not all who wander are lost; he just needed to find his next adventure.
Marco was drawn to the West, with a love for western TV shows and movies. At one point he helped gather Mustangs for Slim Pickens who provided a safe place for the horses. He lived in Colorado Springs for a time with his sister Val and her family. He would hop the train to get to Louisiana for his job with Penrod Oil on off shore rigs. Marco worked a wide array of jobs throughout his life, with his sense of adventure leading him to his passion of long haul trucking where he logged over a million miles.
In 1987 Marco sought solace at Coulter Lake Guest Ranch in Rifle, CO where he had worked 10 years earlier. Fate brought him to meet the love of his life, Brenda Wight. The two married in Rexburg, ID on December 16, 1987 and recently celebrated 37 years together. The union brought him his utmost pride and joys into the world – Travis McGee in 1988 and Whitney Laurence in 1991. Later, his German Shepherd, Sandy, joined the family and became his best friend. Brenda and Marco raised their children in Philipsburg, MT and resided there for 22 years. Being a steadfast and present husband and father, there was no shortage of Sunday drives, picnics at Stewart Lake, horseback rides to Swamp Gulch and fishing Flint Creek or Georgetown with his family at his side.
After their time in Philipsburg, Marco and Brenda drove truck together before settling down in Great Falls, MT where both of their children were stationed. While in Great Falls, he took great pride in being the Great Falls Trolley driver giving tours of the town. After retiring, he enjoyed helping with whatever he could on the Mehmke Farm, a place that brought him so much peace and solitude.
Marco was no doubt a black sheep and a rebel, but he was also an intelligent, gentle human with beautiful
penmanship that loved children, animals, reading, playing the harmonica, solving crossword puzzles,
television, the color yellow, driving, exploring, fishing, Corvettes, and we can’t forget aliens, Bigfoot, and
dreaming of winning the lottery.
Marco is survived by his wife, Brenda Wight Demers (his Sugar) of Great Falls, MT and their children Travis McGee Demers (his Punkin’ man) of Burkburnett, TX and Whitney Laurie Donahue (his Dove), as well as his favorite cribbage opponent, son in law, Julian Donahue, of DuPont, WA. He is also survived by his son Matthew Demers and his daughter Heather Leroux of NH. Marco leaves behind his beloved grandchildren whom adored their Pepêre/Poppy: Carson, Bentley, Quinn, Sawyer, and Harper. Marco is survived by his siblings, Roland Demers (Geri), Lebanon, ME; Anita Emond, Penacook, NH; Roger Demers (Annette), Port St. Lucie, FL; and Valerie Fortier, Newfields, NH.
Thank you to the wonderful folks at Peace Hospice for making him comfortable in his last days.
If my ship was docking in the east, you can bet I’d be headin’ west Right in the wrong direction, ‘cause wrong’s what I do best.
Author: Staff
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