Marian Irene Harris Marshall
1932 - 2022
Marian Irene was born March 15, 1932 in Dundee, Monroe County, Michigan, on the Verne Irish Farm. She was the fifth daughter and youngest child of nine children born to Lloyd Thomas and Harriet Sophia (Roach) Harris. She left this life on March 12, 2022 at home peacefully with family at her side.
She was a direct descendent of Governor William Bradford of the Mayflower as well as Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Revolutionary War soldiers who then became early settlers of Ohio on her mother's side and a descendent of early Ohio and Indiana pioneers on her father's side. Her paternal grandmother's family, the Lehmanns, brought the Mennonite religion to America from Switzerland; her grandmother boarding a ship alone in 1890 at the age of 18 to join brothers and sisters who were founding churches and settling Berne, Indiana. The pioneer spirit ran in Marian's blood and she was never afraid of anything.
Born during the Great Depression to a family that had little to begin with, Marian learned early to be independent and make the most of what she had. She had an exceptional soprano voice and was in demand during her childhood and teenage years as a soloist for school, church and township functions. She was artistic and had a flair for painting, drawing and decorating.
At the age of 17, she travelled with her mother from Michigan to Connecticut to visit her oldest brother, then a Navy Chief on a Sub-Tender. He introduced her to Machinist Mate 2nd Class, Gilbert S. Marshall and it was love at first sight. Their courtship was spent fishing and eating lobster and they were engaged in six days; married in 6 weeks. Their marriage would last 61 years, ending with Gilbert's death in September of 2010.
Together, Marian and Gil would travel the United States from coast to coast and border to border; bringing into the world five children who would share their love of God, education, travel, animals and life. Everything was an adventure.
Marian was kind, gentle and caring. She never saw any person as being less important than she, and could enjoy conversation with the highest, lowest and all in between. She was beautiful and never knew it. She had dark hair and bright blue eyes. She looked fabulous as a blonde. She sang silly songs and she sang opera; she played the Kazoo and the piano by ear; she yodeled and wiggled her ears; she made silly noises and she spoke words of wisdom and compassion; she played cowboys and Indians, cops and robbers, took her kids on imaginary car rides and instilled a love of knowledge and reading at the same time; she loved puzzles and 20 questions; she hated to cook, but made fabulous fried chicken and spaghetti. She did the Soupy Shuffle and tap danced. She was an artist with a sewing machine and paint brush; she painted flowers on her walls. She climbed mountains, rode horses and four wheelers, panned for gold and hung wallpaper. She was both generous and prudent with her money. At various times, she owned a bronzing business, a pet shop and a bar. She believed in UFOs and ghosts. She was an avid reader of everything from the Bible to Stephen King and the Hunger Games. She was a fan of reality TV. She loved and rescued people, cats and dogs and was an authority on migrating and shore birds as well as insects, spiders and snakes. She loved Christmas and kept her Christmas tree up year-round. Family dinner on every Sunday afternoon was a dress-up occasion. She was excellent at fishing and Pinochle, a Texas State Master Gardener and a former member of the Toledo, Ohio chapter of Sweet Adelines women's barbershop quartets. She improved everything she touched. She believed in hard work. She prayed to her loving Savior, voted Republican, had an opinion and cared about everything. She was a force to be reckoned with when her mind was made up, and it usually was.
Marian eventually ran out of new things to do and decided to make a final trip, this one to Heaven, leaving family, friends, cats and chickens to cherish the memory of her wonderful laugh and the joy and comfort she brought to the lives of all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Harriet Harris; her husband, Gil; four sisters, Vera, Elnora, Gladys & husband Ralph Bash, Pauline and husband Monroe Vreeland; four brothers, Lloyd and wife Jean; Virgil and wife, Delcie; Richard and wife, Nancy; Byron and wife, Eleanor; a granddaughter, Amy Cathryn Vaughn; a grandson, Sgt. Nicolas Paul Marshall and a daughter-in-law, Sandra Faye Reneau Marshall. She is survived by her daughter Connie & husband Kelly Byrd; sons: Bert; Gordon and wife, Cynthia; Terry and wife, Angela; Bruce and wife, Linda; seven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and many cousins, nephews and nieces.
As was her way, Marian chose to donate her body to Baylor College of Medicine for research, as did her husband. Her remains will be cremated and returned to her family at a later date for interment at White Cemetery, near Highlands, in Harris County, Texas.
Mama, we'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places; we'll find you in the morning sun, and when the night is new, we'll be looking at the moon, but we'll be seeing you.
1932 - 2022
Marian Irene was born March 15, 1932 in Dundee, Monroe County, Michigan, on the Verne Irish Farm. She was the fifth daughter and youngest child of nine children born to Lloyd Thomas and Harriet Sophia (Roach) Harris. She left this life on March 12, 2022 at home peacefully with family at her side.
She was a direct descendent of Governor William Bradford of the Mayflower as well as Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Revolutionary War soldiers who then became early settlers of Ohio on her mother's side and a descendent of early Ohio and Indiana pioneers on her father's side. Her paternal grandmother's family, the Lehmanns, brought the Mennonite religion to America from Switzerland; her grandmother boarding a ship alone in 1890 at the age of 18 to join brothers and sisters who were founding churches and settling Berne, Indiana. The pioneer spirit ran in Marian's blood and she was never afraid of anything.
Born during the Great Depression to a family that had little to begin with, Marian learned early to be independent and make the most of what she had. She had an exceptional soprano voice and was in demand during her childhood and teenage years as a soloist for school, church and township functions. She was artistic and had a flair for painting, drawing and decorating.
At the age of 17, she travelled with her mother from Michigan to Connecticut to visit her oldest brother, then a Navy Chief on a Sub-Tender. He introduced her to Machinist Mate 2nd Class, Gilbert S. Marshall and it was love at first sight. Their courtship was spent fishing and eating lobster and they were engaged in six days; married in 6 weeks. Their marriage would last 61 years, ending with Gilbert's death in September of 2010.
Together, Marian and Gil would travel the United States from coast to coast and border to border; bringing into the world five children who would share their love of God, education, travel, animals and life. Everything was an adventure.
Marian was kind, gentle and caring. She never saw any person as being less important than she, and could enjoy conversation with the highest, lowest and all in between. She was beautiful and never knew it. She had dark hair and bright blue eyes. She looked fabulous as a blonde. She sang silly songs and she sang opera; she played the Kazoo and the piano by ear; she yodeled and wiggled her ears; she made silly noises and she spoke words of wisdom and compassion; she played cowboys and Indians, cops and robbers, took her kids on imaginary car rides and instilled a love of knowledge and reading at the same time; she loved puzzles and 20 questions; she hated to cook, but made fabulous fried chicken and spaghetti. She did the Soupy Shuffle and tap danced. She was an artist with a sewing machine and paint brush; she painted flowers on her walls. She climbed mountains, rode horses and four wheelers, panned for gold and hung wallpaper. She was both generous and prudent with her money. At various times, she owned a bronzing business, a pet shop and a bar. She believed in UFOs and ghosts. She was an avid reader of everything from the Bible to Stephen King and the Hunger Games. She was a fan of reality TV. She loved and rescued people, cats and dogs and was an authority on migrating and shore birds as well as insects, spiders and snakes. She loved Christmas and kept her Christmas tree up year-round. Family dinner on every Sunday afternoon was a dress-up occasion. She was excellent at fishing and Pinochle, a Texas State Master Gardener and a former member of the Toledo, Ohio chapter of Sweet Adelines women's barbershop quartets. She improved everything she touched. She believed in hard work. She prayed to her loving Savior, voted Republican, had an opinion and cared about everything. She was a force to be reckoned with when her mind was made up, and it usually was.
Marian eventually ran out of new things to do and decided to make a final trip, this one to Heaven, leaving family, friends, cats and chickens to cherish the memory of her wonderful laugh and the joy and comfort she brought to the lives of all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Harriet Harris; her husband, Gil; four sisters, Vera, Elnora, Gladys & husband Ralph Bash, Pauline and husband Monroe Vreeland; four brothers, Lloyd and wife Jean; Virgil and wife, Delcie; Richard and wife, Nancy; Byron and wife, Eleanor; a granddaughter, Amy Cathryn Vaughn; a grandson, Sgt. Nicolas Paul Marshall and a daughter-in-law, Sandra Faye Reneau Marshall. She is survived by her daughter Connie & husband Kelly Byrd; sons: Bert; Gordon and wife, Cynthia; Terry and wife, Angela; Bruce and wife, Linda; seven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and many cousins, nephews and nieces.
As was her way, Marian chose to donate her body to Baylor College of Medicine for research, as did her husband. Her remains will be cremated and returned to her family at a later date for interment at White Cemetery, near Highlands, in Harris County, Texas.
Mama, we'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places; we'll find you in the morning sun, and when the night is new, we'll be looking at the moon, but we'll be seeing you.
Marian Irene Harris Marshall
1932 - 2022
Marian Irene was born March 15, 1932 in Dundee, Monroe County, Michigan, on the Verne Irish Farm. She was the fifth daughter and youngest child of nine children born to Lloyd Thomas and Harriet Sophia (Roach) Harris. She left this life on March 12, 2022 at home peacefully with family at her side.
She was a direct descendent of Governor William Bradford of the Mayflower as well as Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Revolutionary War soldiers who then became early settlers of Ohio on her mother's side and a descendent of early Ohio and Indiana pioneers on her father's side. Her paternal grandmother's family, the Lehmanns, brought the Mennonite religion to America from Switzerland; her grandmother boarding a ship alone in 1890 at the age of 18 to join brothers and sisters who were founding churches and settling Berne, Indiana. The pioneer spirit ran in Marian's blood and she was never afraid of anything.
Born during the Great Depression to a family that had little to begin with, Marian learned early to be independent and make the most of what she had. She had an exceptional soprano voice and was in demand during her childhood and teenage years as a soloist for school, church and township functions. She was artistic and had a flair for painting, drawing and decorating.
At the age of 17, she travelled with her mother from Michigan to Connecticut to visit her oldest brother, then a Navy Chief on a Sub-Tender. He introduced her to Machinist Mate 2nd Class, Gilbert S. Marshall and it was love at first sight. Their courtship was spent fishing and eating lobster and they were engaged in six days; married in 6 weeks. Their marriage would last 61 years, ending with Gilbert's death in September of 2010.
Together, Marian and Gil would travel the United States from coast to coast and border to border; bringing into the world five children who would share their love of God, education, travel, animals and life. Everything was an adventure.
Marian was kind, gentle and caring. She never saw any person as being less important than she, and could enjoy conversation with the highest, lowest and all in between. She was beautiful and never knew it. She had dark hair and bright blue eyes. She looked fabulous as a blonde. She sang silly songs and she sang opera; she played the Kazoo and the piano by ear; she yodeled and wiggled her ears; she made silly noises and she spoke words of wisdom and compassion; she played cowboys and Indians, cops and robbers, took her kids on imaginary car rides and instilled a love of knowledge and reading at the same time; she loved puzzles and 20 questions; she hated to cook, but made fabulous fried chicken and spaghetti. She did the Soupy Shuffle and tap danced. She was an artist with a sewing machine and paint brush; she painted flowers on her walls. She climbed mountains, rode horses and four wheelers, panned for gold and hung wallpaper. She was both generous and prudent with her money. At various times, she owned a bronzing business, a pet shop and a bar. She believed in UFOs and ghosts. She was an avid reader of everything from the Bible to Stephen King and the Hunger Games. She was a fan of reality TV. She loved and rescued people, cats and dogs and was an authority on migrating and shore birds as well as insects, spiders and snakes. She loved Christmas and kept her Christmas tree up year-round. Family dinner on every Sunday afternoon was a dress-up occasion. She was excellent at fishing and Pinochle, a Texas State Master Gardener and a former member of the Toledo, Ohio chapter of Sweet Adelines women's barbershop quartets. She improved everything she touched. She believed in hard work. She prayed to her loving Savior, voted Republican, had an opinion and cared about everything. She was a force to be reckoned with when her mind was made up, and it usually was.
Marian eventually ran out of new things to do and decided to make a final trip, this one to Heaven, leaving family, friends, cats and chickens to cherish the memory of her wonderful laugh and the joy and comfort she brought to the lives of all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Harriet Harris; her husband, Gil; four sisters, Vera, Elnora, Gladys & husband Ralph Bash, Pauline and husband Monroe Vreeland; four brothers, Lloyd and wife Jean; Virgil and wife, Delcie; Richard and wife, Nancy; Byron and wife, Eleanor; a granddaughter, Amy Cathryn Vaughn; a grandson, Sgt. Nicolas Paul Marshall and a daughter-in-law, Sandra Faye Reneau Marshall. She is survived by her daughter Connie & husband Kelly Byrd; sons: Bert; Gordon and wife, Cynthia; Terry and wife, Angela; Bruce and wife, Linda; seven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and many cousins, nephews and nieces.
As was her way, Marian chose to donate her body to Baylor College of Medicine for research, as did her husband. Her remains will be cremated and returned to her family at a later date for interment at White Cemetery, near Highlands, in Harris County, Texas.
Mama, we'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places; we'll find you in the morning sun, and when the night is new, we'll be looking at the moon, but we'll be seeing you.
1932 - 2022
Marian Irene was born March 15, 1932 in Dundee, Monroe County, Michigan, on the Verne Irish Farm. She was the fifth daughter and youngest child of nine children born to Lloyd Thomas and Harriet Sophia (Roach) Harris. She left this life on March 12, 2022 at home peacefully with family at her side.
She was a direct descendent of Governor William Bradford of the Mayflower as well as Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Revolutionary War soldiers who then became early settlers of Ohio on her mother's side and a descendent of early Ohio and Indiana pioneers on her father's side. Her paternal grandmother's family, the Lehmanns, brought the Mennonite religion to America from Switzerland; her grandmother boarding a ship alone in 1890 at the age of 18 to join brothers and sisters who were founding churches and settling Berne, Indiana. The pioneer spirit ran in Marian's blood and she was never afraid of anything.
Born during the Great Depression to a family that had little to begin with, Marian learned early to be independent and make the most of what she had. She had an exceptional soprano voice and was in demand during her childhood and teenage years as a soloist for school, church and township functions. She was artistic and had a flair for painting, drawing and decorating.
At the age of 17, she travelled with her mother from Michigan to Connecticut to visit her oldest brother, then a Navy Chief on a Sub-Tender. He introduced her to Machinist Mate 2nd Class, Gilbert S. Marshall and it was love at first sight. Their courtship was spent fishing and eating lobster and they were engaged in six days; married in 6 weeks. Their marriage would last 61 years, ending with Gilbert's death in September of 2010.
Together, Marian and Gil would travel the United States from coast to coast and border to border; bringing into the world five children who would share their love of God, education, travel, animals and life. Everything was an adventure.
Marian was kind, gentle and caring. She never saw any person as being less important than she, and could enjoy conversation with the highest, lowest and all in between. She was beautiful and never knew it. She had dark hair and bright blue eyes. She looked fabulous as a blonde. She sang silly songs and she sang opera; she played the Kazoo and the piano by ear; she yodeled and wiggled her ears; she made silly noises and she spoke words of wisdom and compassion; she played cowboys and Indians, cops and robbers, took her kids on imaginary car rides and instilled a love of knowledge and reading at the same time; she loved puzzles and 20 questions; she hated to cook, but made fabulous fried chicken and spaghetti. She did the Soupy Shuffle and tap danced. She was an artist with a sewing machine and paint brush; she painted flowers on her walls. She climbed mountains, rode horses and four wheelers, panned for gold and hung wallpaper. She was both generous and prudent with her money. At various times, she owned a bronzing business, a pet shop and a bar. She believed in UFOs and ghosts. She was an avid reader of everything from the Bible to Stephen King and the Hunger Games. She was a fan of reality TV. She loved and rescued people, cats and dogs and was an authority on migrating and shore birds as well as insects, spiders and snakes. She loved Christmas and kept her Christmas tree up year-round. Family dinner on every Sunday afternoon was a dress-up occasion. She was excellent at fishing and Pinochle, a Texas State Master Gardener and a former member of the Toledo, Ohio chapter of Sweet Adelines women's barbershop quartets. She improved everything she touched. She believed in hard work. She prayed to her loving Savior, voted Republican, had an opinion and cared about everything. She was a force to be reckoned with when her mind was made up, and it usually was.
Marian eventually ran out of new things to do and decided to make a final trip, this one to Heaven, leaving family, friends, cats and chickens to cherish the memory of her wonderful laugh and the joy and comfort she brought to the lives of all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Harriet Harris; her husband, Gil; four sisters, Vera, Elnora, Gladys & husband Ralph Bash, Pauline and husband Monroe Vreeland; four brothers, Lloyd and wife Jean; Virgil and wife, Delcie; Richard and wife, Nancy; Byron and wife, Eleanor; a granddaughter, Amy Cathryn Vaughn; a grandson, Sgt. Nicolas Paul Marshall and a daughter-in-law, Sandra Faye Reneau Marshall. She is survived by her daughter Connie & husband Kelly Byrd; sons: Bert; Gordon and wife, Cynthia; Terry and wife, Angela; Bruce and wife, Linda; seven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and many cousins, nephews and nieces.
As was her way, Marian chose to donate her body to Baylor College of Medicine for research, as did her husband. Her remains will be cremated and returned to her family at a later date for interment at White Cemetery, near Highlands, in Harris County, Texas.
Mama, we'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places; we'll find you in the morning sun, and when the night is new, we'll be looking at the moon, but we'll be seeing you.
