Celia Mennen Marks, who for many years was the voice of cooking in Chattanooga and along with her sister, Fanny Mennen, started the Plum Nelly Shop, died Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005. She was born Dec. 14, 1906, and was 98.
Diminutive in height but gigantic in stature, she lived a very full and amazingly productive life. At age 98, she was in the midst of writing another book. Surrounding this busy person was art, music and books, and more books. A voracious reader, she never lost her zest for life, her innate curiosity and her capacity and eagerness for learning.
Her early careers included work with the Tennessee Valley Authority and freelance writing for advertising and radio. A well-known columnist and cookbook writer, she was food editor for the Chattanooga Times for eight years. She wrote columns for other publications upon her "retirement."
During that time, she founded the Plum Nelly Shop, a fine crafts gallery specializing in handmade, one-of-a-kind works of art. For her shop patrons, she wrote a monthly newsletter, The Crafty Cook, which continued for 16 years.
In 1994, Celia relocated to Arkansas to be near her daughter, Sidney Nisbet. She immediately resumed her writing - this time as a weekly columnist for the Cherokee Villager and as food columnist for Aging Arkansas, a monthly statewide publication. Her columns still appear in Aging Arkansas and her almost-completed cookbook is left with her co-writer, Barbara Massic.
She was a charter member of the Spring River Branch of the National League of American Pen Women, a member of the Cherokee Village Writers and of the Friends of the Library of the Hardy Library.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis, and one daughter, Judith Ann.
She leaves behind a daughter, Sidney Nisbet, of Cherokee Village, Ark.
Celia Marks will be missed by her many new friends in Arkansas and by a host of lifelong friends in Chattanooga.
Graveside services will be Friday at 2 p.m. with Rabbi Joshua Lief officiating.
Burial will be in Mizpah Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are by J. Avery Bryan Funeral Home on McCallie Avenue.