Born Eva M Kugler on September 26, 1895, Marie was the 3rd daughter and 6th child of Karl and Pauline (Klenk) Kugler. She was born at home in Brutus, Maple River Twp, (Emmet County) Michigan. She left school after the 11th grade and went to work for a banker in Petoskey, (Emmet County) Michigan, to care for his children.

Marie met Ralph (Christman) Gix at Ruggles Roller Skating rink in Petoskey, Michigan. They were married June 13, 1916 and had three daughters, all born in Pontiac, (Oakland County) Michigan.

Their first daughter, Wanda Ruth, was born on July 8, 1916, and had her name legally changed to Ruth Marie. Their second daughter, Helen Louise, was born on November 24, 1917. Jean May, their last daughter, was born on December 8, 1922.

During the depression Marie worked for the Fitzgerald Family, on Ottawa Drive in Pontiac, where she was the cook for about four years. (Harold Fitzgerald was editor of the Pontiac Daily Press newspaper.)

When Ralph died on August 11, 1946, Marie was living at 118 Mary Day in Pontiac, along with her daughter Jean. Marie was devastated when Ralph died. Her brother, Ted Kugler, asked Helen and Bob Petersen to move back to town, from Williams Lake in Waterford, to help support her. In 1974, Helen's family and Marie moved to 3519 Percy King Road in Waterford, (Oakland County) Michigan.

Marie was a member of the Eastern Star Organization #228 and became Worthy Matron. She enjoyed playing cards, scrabble, working crossword puzzles, bingo and traveling. She went to Scotland and England with Elizabeth Gordon, a family friend. For many years, Marie traveled to Florida during the winter months; many times with her sister-in-law, Ida (Gix) Hinkle; then to visit her daughter Ruth and family after they moved to Florida in 1958. In the summers, she traveled to Petoskey, Michigan, where Ida lived. Many of those trips were with her daughter Ruth, and grandchildren, Tom, Gary and Dru.

Marie was a charter member of Bethel Evangelical and Reformed Church established in Pontiac in 1926. It is now Bethel United Church of Christ, in Waterford, Michigan. Marie played the piano by ear and never took a piano lesson in her life. She was an excellent cook and loved to bake delicious goodies. Everyone loved her homemade bread. Marie enjoyed her family and often referred to her daughters as “my three angels.” Ralph and Marie had nine grandchildren, however Ralph only lived long enough to see two – Tom and Gary Luter.

On June 18, 1988, Marie died at Pontiac General Hospital from cardiac arrest, due to coronary heart disease, at the age of 92. She is buried next to her husband, Ralph, at White Chapel Cemetery in Troy, (Oakland County) Michigan.