Marcia L Gentry, 60, of West Lafayette passed away peacefully at home on August 31^st, 2022 with her husband and friends by her side after a courageous five-year battle with breast cancer.

Marcia was born and raised in Paw Paw Michigan to the late Roger D. and Jackie S. (Puckett) Gentry graduating in 1980 as class Valedictorian. She went on to earn a BS and MS from Western Michigan University and Ph. D. in Educational Psychology, Gifted & Talented Studies from the University of Connecticut.

She was a well-respected and world-renowned Professor of Educational Studies at Purdue and Executive Director of the Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute. As a recognized visionary leader in her field, she was outspoken in her lifelong passion of ensuring every child has access to the highest quality education regardless of income or demographics.

Marcia was a master gardener with a landscape license who skillfully and lovingly transformed not only her own yards and gardens, but also those of her friends. She enjoyed time with her horses, and excelled in competitive equestrian activities throughout her youth. An avid collector of Navajo weavings, she recently bequeathed an extensive collection to the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis for inclusion in their permanent collection.

Surviving with her loving husband, Steven Sargent, is her daughter, Gentry Lee Andrews (husband: Geoffrey) of Boston, MA.

A private open house will be held to remember Marcia at a future date.

Information on memorial donations to the Marcia Gentry Dissertation Award scholarship fund for academic work addressing Excellence and Equity can be found at: https://connect.purdue.edu/Gentry