Marcia Jayne Burks Luigs

Marcia Jayne Burks Luigs of Carmel, Indiana, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 8, 2026, after a long battle with dementia. Born on September 20, 1945, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Dr. Jess Edwin Burks and Mildred Jayne Burress Burks. Marcia enjoyed a quintessential small-town childhood in Crawfordsville, Indiana. The oldest of four children, she was an excellent student, was the Crawfordsville High School drum major and enjoyed summers as a lifeguard which fostered a lifelong love of swimming and the water.

Marcia enrolled at Hanover College and joined Alpha Delta Pi sorority where she fatefully met Joe Luigs while he was washing dishes at her sorority. They married in 1965 and settled in Indianapolis, welcoming the birth of their two daughters, Alicia Jayne (Lisa) and Amy Kathryn. Marcia was a dedicated wife and mother, attending all the girls’ school activities and found the time to volunteer for several decades at a nursery school for special needs children.

When the family joined Crooked Stick Golf Club in 1975, Marcia's life took a new direction. As Lisa began playing in junior tournaments, Marcia became interested in the complicated Rules of Golf. She was asked to become a board member and then President of the Women's Golf Association of Metropolitan Indianapolis - a humble beginning to an extraordinary life in golf. She established a scholarship to send Hoosier junior girls to national golf championships.

As a player, Marcia won two Crooked Stick club championships and the Indiana state mother/daughter championship with Lisa. But it was the Rules that really captured her attention. This quiet and unassuming woman scored 100/100 on the very difficult USGA rules exam, which was rarely done. She was invited to join the Women's Western Golf Association, the Trans-National Women's Golf Association and the USGA Junior Girls committee. She was one of the first females to officiate the US Men’s Open Championship and the Walker Cup.

After five years on the Girls Junior committee, she was elevated to the USGA Women's Committee in 1990. In 2005, she became chair and officiated in all of their major championships. In 2008, she was captain of the Women’s World Amateur Championship team which was conducted in Adelaide, Australia. Other international opportunities included events in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Puerto Rico and New Zealand.

For all of her accomplishments, she was recognized with several awards, including “Outstanding Hoosier” award by Gov. Mitch Daniels, “Sagamore of the Wabash” by Gov. Evan Bayh, the Hanover College Athletic Hall of Fame (along with Joe), the Indiana Golf Association Hall of Fame (also with Joe), and the USGA Ike Grainger award for 25 years of volunteer service. Notably, she and Joe were interviewed and featured on NPR’s Story Corps.

As a player, Marcia had her ups and downs. On the plus side, she had four holes-in-one to Joe’s zero, but also took a divot out of the carpet with a practice swing and later broke the laundry room window with a ball hit from the yard.

Most of all Marcia cherished time with family and friends. She and Amy would winter in Vero Beach, Florida, and hosted many friends. She and Joe were fortunate to have the opportunity to travel the world.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and younger brother, Joseph Edwin Burks. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Joseph K. Luigs, two daughters, Amy K. Luigs, and Lisa Luigs Morrissett, one granddaughter, Amy Jayne Morrissett, brother Peter Burress Burks, sister Paula Ann Burks, and beloved golden retriever, Jake.

The family gratefully gives thanks to the caregivers and staff of Luminary Hospice and Story Cottage West Clay for their kind and loving care during Marcia’s last days.

A celebration of Marcia’s life will be held at Crooked Stick Golf Club on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, from 2-5 p.m. Marcia would insist that you dress in your most casual clothes, complete with your favorite logoed golf/sports team wear and comfy sneakers.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to susiesplace.org, indianagolf.org, or your local animal shelter.