Marian House

Margaret Marian Mitchelson House was born on November 16, 1931, in Daytona Beach, Florida, to Blaine Braxton Barber and Wilhelmina Carson Barber. She passed January 10, 2026, at the age of 94, surrounded by a lifetime of love and memories.

Marian was the oldest of three sisters and a true original from the very beginning. Strong, capable, and adventurous, she was proud to be the first woman ever hired by the Daytona Beach Lifeguard Squad—a role that perfectly reflected her confidence, independence, and the deep connection to the ocean that shaped so much of her life.

After graduating from Seabreeze High School, she attended the University of Alabama, where she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and formed friendships that lasted a lifetime. While at Alabama, she met Theo K. Mitchelson, and the two married in 1950, beginning a journey filled with devotion, family, and many moves dictated by his career with State Farm Insurance. Their path took them from Florida to Bloomington/Normal, Illinois, and eventually to Monroe, Louisiana, where they raised their children and built a full, busy life together.

When her children were grown, she returned to college at Louisiana Tech University earning her nursing degree, and spent a decade caring for others at Glenwood Regional Medical Center, where her kindness and steady presence were felt by both patients and colleagues.

In 1990, after dreaming of retiring back to Florida and purchasing a home in Sawgrass, Marian faced a profound loss when Theo passed away from pancreatic cancer. Yet, her story was not finished. In 1992, she found love again with Donald House. Together, they shared nearly three decades of travel, laughter, and adventure, eventually building a home along the Intracoastal Waterway—a place where Marian felt most at peace. Don passed away in 2020, but their years together remained a treasured chapter of her life.

In her later years, Marian lived at Vicar’s Landing, where she resided until her passing on January 10, 2026.

Above all else, Marian loved her family. She is survived by her son, Theo Mitchelson Jr. (Anadela); her daughters, Laura Welker (David) and Lisa Effren (Kevin Brown).

She was a deeply proud grandmother to Theo Mitchelson III (Amy), Holly Mitchelson Tudor, Erin Helgar (Alexander), Andy Welker, Mitchel Effren (Miranda), Emily Effren (Austin), Heather House, and Trey House (Christina).

She was also a delighted great-grandmother to Margot, Eija, Ellie, Cody, Courtney, Hayden, Hudson, Sylvan, Cypress, and Fern. Marian is also survived by her sisters, Nancy Nichols Newton and Carol Bertani, as well as many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.

A private family service will be held at a later date. Marian’s ashes will be returned to the sea she loved so much—where the sound of the water, the open horizon, and the rhythm of the tides will forever carry her memory.