FRISCO — Marjean B. Rosell (“Gee Gee”), owner of Buxton Village Books, died on Thursday, January 29, following a brief illness.
Born April 14, 1952, in Fairmont, West Viriginia, she was a daughter of the late George W. Butcher Jr. and Kathleen K. Butcher.
Gee Gee graduated from Fairmont Senior High School in 1970 and from West Virginia University in 1974 with a degree in Forestry/Recreation.
In her later years, she pursued a master’s degree from Harvard University, focusing both on creative writing and Environmental Sciences.
Shortly after graduating from WVU, she moved to the Outer Banks, eventually ending up on Hatteras Island in 1974.
Thus began a love affair with Hatteras Island that lasted over 50 years.
After working various seasonal and full-time jobs with the National Park Service, she left NPS to establish Buxton Village Books in 1984.
For the next 42 years, she could be found behind the sales counter at BVB, encouraging and advising folks, young and old, on their next great read.
She was an ardent supporter of the reading programs in Hatteras Island schools and was active in several civic organizations.
She had a special interest in the preservation and operation of the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station.
Through her knowledge of the book industry, she assisted many authors in getting their books published and/or reissued.
BVB was her heart and soul, and she spent each and every day making the store a welcoming space for one and all.
Gee Gee is survived by her siblings, Lynanne Wescott of Philadelphia, PA, and George Butcher III (Connie) of Fairmont, WV; her niece, Mesia Godfrey (Jason) of Manteo, NC; and her great nephews, Austin Godfrey and Colin Godfrey. She is also survived by numerous cousins in WV, Washington state, and elsewhere.
If you wish to honor Gee Gee’s life of compassion, donations may be made to Chicamacomico LSS Historical Association, Hatteras Island Rescue Squad, local reading programs in the Hatteras Island schools, Hatteras Cats rescue or a charity of your choice.
Plans are currently underway to establish a scholarship in her memory by the Buxton Civic Association.
A celebration of life will be held on Hatteras Island. The date, time and location will be listed on Buxton Village Books website and Facebook page.
Her family thanks the entire staff at Outer Banks Hospital and the ICU staff at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital for the kind and compassionate care of our beloved sister.
The family appreciates the heartfelt tributes written by many of her friends that were posted. She was special, we will miss her forever.
