She spent her early years in the community of Moonshine Hill (near Humble, Texas), where her father worked on the oilfield. Marie seemed to have been born with a passion for education. She cried to go to school with her older sister and finally, seeing the difficulty her mother was having, the teacher said "let her come." So she started early and skipped two grades, learning as much as she could as fast as she could. In the early 20's the family moved to Huntsville, where she graduated from high school and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Sam Houston State Teachers College. 
When she began her teaching career at La Marque High School, Marie was less than a year older than her oldest students. Before coming to Bryan in 1946, she taught in Lexington High School, Coldspring High School and Beaumont's South Park High School, where she was Dean of Girls. While in Beaumont, she also taught at Lamar College. She continued her education during summer breaks by attending the University of Texas at Austin and Sam Houston State Teacher's College, where she received her Master of Science Degree in Statistics in 1942.
Marie taught Mathematics in Bryan Independent School District from 1946 to 1978 and was director of Mathematics for the district from 1964 to 1978. She was a Charter member of the Region VI Educational Service Center Advisory committee and was active in that group from 1967 to 1978. Marie received an Outstanding Teacher Award from BISD in 1972. After retiring from the district, Marie taught at Allen Academy and Blinn College through 1985 and continued tutoring mathematics in her home until 1991.

Marie was active in her church and community and held memberships in numerous professional and genealogical groups. She was an active and participating member, for as long as she was able, of: First United Methodist Church – Bryan and Normangee; Neighborly Sunday School Class; The Order of the Eastern Star – Cypress #1102;The Social Order of the Beauceant; Delta Kappa Gamma International Society for Key Women Educators; The National Society of Magna Charta Dames & Barons – Houston Colony; The Colonial Order of the Crown; The Sovereign Colonial Society of Americans of Royal Descent; The Royal Order of the Garter; Daughters of American Colonists; Colonial Dames of the XVII Century; Daughters of the American Revolution; United Daughters of the Confederacy; and Daughters of the Republic of Texas. 
Even as she experienced limited mobility, her interest and involvement never wavered. Her most recent contribution was the donation of her home and property in Normangee. Her generous gift enabled the creation of the Charles and Marie Geelan Community House which is providing a much needed and well utilized activity center for the area's seniors.
In 1946, Marie married Aubrey J. Vick of Lexington. He preceded her in death in 1973. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Thelma Annette Bruner McMurray Prentice. In 1991, Marie married Charles W. Geelan of Normangee, who preceded her in death in 2008. She is survived by her daughter, Ann Marie Vick of Bryan and Houston, and a host of friends and former students. 
Much love, thanks, and appreciation to those who have so generously given of themselves: the entire staff of A Caring Solution Home Health Care, Hospice Brazos Valley, Crestview Skilled Nursing – Heritage wing. Ruth James Stringfellow and Brittany Hickey, we couldn't have made it without you. You have all been our angels.
A Memorial Service and Celebration of Marie's life will be held on Saturday, January 4, at 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church of Bryan, followed by a lunch and reception in the Fellow Hall.

Those who wish may make donations to the Charles & Marie Geelan Community House, P O Box 424, Normangee, TX 77871 or The Marie Bruner Vick Memorial Scholarship Endowment, SHSU, University Advancement, Box 2537, Huntsville, TX 77341.

Memorial Funeral Chapel
Bryan, Texas