Marca Lee Bircher's Obituary
Marca Lee Bircher (née Bryant) was born on June 8th, 1936, and died on May 7th, 2024. Survived by her eldest son, Preston Lee Bircher; Sister, Brenda Louise Bryant; Brother, Norvel Ray Bryant; and her two grandchildren, Heather Mackinzie Bircher, and Clayton Alexander Bircher. Preceded in death by her parents, Choice Leach Bryant and Gladys Lucille Bryant (née McClure); her youngest son Lance Clayton Bircher and husband Norman Walter Bircher. And lastly her brother, Riley Edgar Bryant.
“Marca Lee”, as she was known, moved numerous times growing up. Her father was a Church of Christ preacher. He would task himself to take small churches in need of growth, and bring their congregations to stability, and in many cases, help them build a church building. Sharing and spreading the word of Christ.
She was born in Bryson, TX in 1936. Moved to Jacksboro, TX where her brother “Ed” was born (‘36~’38). Then up to Grandfield, OK (’38~’39). Back down to Floydada, TX (‘39~’41). West to Las Cruses, NM (‘41~’42) where she started school. Next over to Yuma, AZ (‘42~’46) where her brother “Ray” was born. Their next home was in El Centro, CA (‘46~’49) and that is where her little sister Brenda was born. Her Junior High School days were in Burbank, CA (‘49~’50). Then it was up to beautiful Salem, OR (‘50~’53). Marca Lee excelled in learning, and therefore ‘skipped’ a grade and graduated from Salem High School at the age of 16. Two weeks before school started, her parents drove her back to Texas to attend Abilene Christian College. She never went back west. ACC brought her lifelong friends—most stayed very close until their passings.
In 1959 when Marca Lee moved to Dallas, she lived for a short time in what is now known as Deep Ellum. And within the year moved to her fancy apartment on Gaston Ave. in the Royal Palms, as a foreshadowing of greater things to come, in the Woodrow Wilson High School district.
Shortly thereafter, she met her future husband, Norman, a barbershop singer/hardware salesman. Married August 4th, 1961, and shortly thereafter they bought a house and moved into the Webb Royal area of Dallas to start a family. Preston Lee was born in 1962, followed by Lance Clayton in 1965.
Marca Lee’s career started in Abilene. She started teaching music in the local elementary school. Realizing the need for more arts in her life, she headed to Big D. Once in Dallas, she sang with the Dallas Opera and various other companies.. After a small stint working with the Dallas Texans Football Team, now known as the Kansas City Chiefs, she would become a founding member of the Dallas Civic Chorus, now known as the Dallas Symphony Chorus. For nearly 15 years, Marca Lee would sing the “Star Spangled Banner” with the Chorus at the start of each Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day football game. The arranger, Dr. Lloyd Pfautsch, knew her vocal range and wrote the high-E following the word “brave” that is now known coast-to-coast and mimicked by millions.
After the two boys were running around, she started teaching music at Urban Park Elementary School. As elementary education really wasn’t her thing, she was hired to be “the music department” at the small Christian College of the Southwest in Mesquite. She started bringing “Big Broadway Musicals” to the little school. Her first production was “Fiddler on the Roof”. To keep the family together, she enlisted her two sons to be in the shows as well. That started a tradition that carried on for years to come. And a career to her eldest, Preston.
The little college fell on hard times and was purchased by her alma mater, now known as Abilene Christian University. Shortly thereafter, ACU-Dallas discontinued their Music program and Marca Lee returned to the DISD at Titche Elementary. During this time, she also taught in the Dallas Community College District’s various campuses. From Titche, she was led to J.L. Long Middle School. Middle School was not where she wanted to be. And after a very short number of days, the position of Music and Choral Director at the adjacent Woodrow Wilson High School opened. This is where her destiny and story really begins.
The Woodrow Wilson High School Class of 1975-1976 produced the musical “Oliver”. Marca Lee made her mark. Her genuine heart, openness, and dedication to a professional approach, regardless of the fact it was a high school, drove the students and parents to love her even more. She gave them an education and a drive to push them through life. Each year her music program grew and grew. The shows became larger and exceeded the definition of a High School Musical.
In 1979, alongside her new partner in theatre and laughter, Marca Lee & Patti Hardman created the show choir “The Variations”, for the celebration of Woodrow’s 50th anniversary. That program lives on to this very day. And in the early 80’s, they started ending every performance with “Rhythm of Life”. And that has created the most amazing tradition over the decades.
Marca Lee, along with Patti, retired in 2003 to an amazing retirement party and performance by 28-years of students that flew back to perform numbers from each and every show. They then blew them a kiss goodbye as they “graduated”. The Woodrow auditorium exceeded its capacity with multi-generations of students and parents, many of whom were also former students of hers themselves! A true testament to the love she shared and planted in those around her.
Marca Lee Bircher ran up a long list of awards and accolades. A “short” list of some are: Best Director's Award at The Young Americans Show Choir Competition in Los Angeles; The Ross Perot Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award; The Education Award from the Freedom Foundation; Who's Who in Texas Music Education; Denius UIL State Award for Teaching Excellence; George Washington Medal of Honor, Valley Forge; Mirabeau B. Lamar Award for Excellence in Education; Teacher of the Year by the Friends of Woodrow; Morlan Medal for Achievement in Education, Abilene Christian University; Texas Cultural Trust Council for the Texas Legislature Texas Medal of Arts Award for “Arts Educator”; Juliette Fowler Communities Foundation, Visionary Women Award; and the Dallas Morning News “High Profile” full section feature.
After Marca Lee retired, she became a full-time caregiver for her loving husband, Norman. They recently had found a new home with Highland Oaks Church of Christ. She found that as her perfect place with the Lord. Church leadership moved to allow women to participate in the Worship Service, which was something that she wanted since she was a little girl. To her, that was magical. Singing with the Praise Team kept her passions alive.
Marca Lee’s kind and giving soul touched all that met and worked with her, sang with her, laughed with her, cared for her. She never had to say that she was a Christian. Her love of life and people showed that she was a Christian… by living by example.
Marca Lee Bircher was an amazing person.
A Celebration of Life memorial service will begin at 12 Noon on Saturday, May 18, 2024, in the Sanctuary at Wilshire Baptist Church, 4316 Abrams Road, in Dallas. A reception in the Church's Community Hall will follow the service.
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