Gladys Marie Bush, 85, passed away Friday, April 14, 2023, after an extended illness. The daughter of Louis Edward George and Gay Lee Allen George, she was born August 29, 1937, in Cannelton, Indiana. She graduated from Bedford High School, where she was active in student council, science club, sports and choir ensemble. After high school, she married Pat Fitzgibbon and lived in Indiana, New Mexico, Nebraska and Illinois, while raising their sons, Mike and Steve, who were the joy of her life. Marie moved to Tupelo, Mississippi, in 1978 and made it her home.
On July 4, 1980, Marie married her husband of 31 years, Norman Bush, and gained three stepchildren, Cindy, Christy and Todd. She was a long-time employee in the bookstore and children’s department of Reed’s Department Store, where she thought of her coworkers and customers as family. Marie was a lifelong animal lover and supporter of the Tupelo/Lee County Humane Society. She enjoyed her retirement, volunteering with the NMMC Women’s Auxiliary and Lee County Library, and spending time with family and her special friends, the “Go Girls.” She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Tupelo.
Marie is survived by her children, Mike Fitzgibbon and wife, Lori, of Hortonville, Wisconsin; Steve Fitzgibbon and wife, Ellen, of Panama City, Florida; Cindy Cannon and husband, Ronnie, of Oxford, Mississippi; Christy Young Hutson and husband, Greg Hutson, of Mooreville, Mississippi; and Todd Bush and wife, Michel, of Merritt Island, Florida; her sisters, Virginia Gath and husband, Charles, of Issaquah, Washington, and Louise McEneany and husband, Dennis, of Cullman, Alabama; grandchildren, Joe Fitzgibbon of Madison, Wisconsin; Zac Cannon and wife, Laura, of Madrid, Spain; Margie Claire Ruscoe and husband, Ben, of Etta, Mississippi; Caden Cannon of Oxford, Mississippi; Ashley Mabry and husband, Daniel, of Edwardsville, Illinois; Tyler Young and wife, Katie, of Saltillo, Mississippi; Ricky Bush, Jessica Bush and Matthew Bush of Merritt Island, Florida; and Gregory Hutson of Mooreville, Mississippi; great-grandchildren, Kellen Mabry, Ellery Mabry, Tatum Young, Landry Young, Rivers Ruscoe, Wiley Ruscoe, Liam Cannon and RJ Bush; and special nieces, Karen Gath, Kristen Richendifer, Maureen Hunkler, Paula Aucoin and Brigid McEneaney.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Norman Bush, and her parents, Louis and Gay George.
Visitation will be 2 p.m. until service time Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Pegues, Tupelo.
A memorial service to honor Marie’s life will be 3 p.m. Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the Jefferson Street Chapel of Pegues in Tupelo, Mississippi.
In lieu of flowers, Marie requested that any memorial gifts be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, the Lee County Library or the Tupelo/Lee Humane Society.
