Marie (Holb, Boettler, Holshuh) Ricks

Marie (Holb, Boettler, Holshuh) Ricks, age 97 of North Canton, Ohio, went home to be with the Lord on the evening of Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at her home in North Canton, after an extended period of declining health.

She was born September 27, 1928, in Akron, OH, a daughter of the late John and Justine Holb. She was the oldest of ten siblings.

In addition to her parents, Marie was preceded in death by her ex-husband, Gene L. Boettler, and her late husband, Harold (Jake) Holshuh. She was also preceded in death by her brother, William Holb, and sisters, Annabelle Caldren, Kathleen Turner, Janice Phillips, Joan Sheffield, and Carolyn Pamer, as well as stepdaughters Winona Large and Claudia Adomat, and step-granddaughter Melanie Large.

Marie is survived by her husband, John Ricks, daughter Patricia Boettler (Dan) Burk, stepdaughter Roxanne Ricks, grandchildren Lindsey (Joseph) Gainer, Haley (Donald) Burk/Sedlock, Taylor (Mat) Lewis, and James/J.R. (Josselyn) Coppenger, and great grandsons Rhett and John Paul Lewis, and Waylon and Wyatt Coppenger. She is also survived by siblings Janet Holbert, Robert (Marilyn) Holb, and John Holb, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Marie worked at Roadway Express in Akron for many years, until she retired over thirty years ago. During those early years she was also a Girl Scout leader, and later enjoyed volunteering at Chapel Hill Christian School, where her granddaughters attended. Marie was known for her kindness, generosity, encouragement, and support, as well as her strength, joy, and her abiding faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Even as her mind weakened, she prayed for her loved ones. Her faith was her anchor through everything. She was a longtime member of The Chapel - first in Akron and later at the Green campus.

From a young age, Marie took cleaning to another level - it was practically her hobby! Regrettably, this trait passed by at least one generation. She told stories of how, as the oldest of ten siblings, she felt compelled to clean the house (which she much preferred over cooking) when the family was young. Her mom would just shake her head, knowing the futility of keeping a house of ten children neat and clean.

Nothing brought her joy like spending time with the people she loved, though. Whether visiting with her family, a lunch out, shopping, traveling the world, talking to friends on the phone, or simply enjoying John’s company on the couch as they watched the lake… or baseball (or football!), she was happiest in the presence of her nearest and dearest.

Many have said Marie was “an easy person to love,” and she truly was. Her sweet disposition had a way of making even strangers feel at ease; you always left a conversation with her feeling heard, understood, and cared for whether you knew her five minutes or fifty years. She will be hugely missed by all who were blessed to know her. Her family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Marie and John’s health aides—Michelle Wollet, Joyce Wollet, Marlene Finney, Keira Mothersbaugh, and Morgan Whitehead—who have treated them like an extension of their own families, working tirelessly day and night to keep them in their home, together, exactly where they wanted to be.

In accordance with Marie’s wishes, there will be a small memorial gathering for family at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Marie’s memory to Chapel Hill Christian School (South campus) or Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy.