MARY EMILY MARSHALL

1919 - 2011

Mary Emily Marshall, 92, of DeKalb, formerly of Big Rock, passed away Tuesday, June 7, 2011, at Bethany Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, DeKalb. She was born on April 6, 1919, in DeKalb, the only daughter of Walter and Minnie (Hiner) Smith.
Mary was proud to have attended St. Mary's Catholic School, Ellwood School, a country school and the Cortland School. She graduated from DeKalb High School. Mary was united in marriage Feb. 1, 1941, to Mr. Arthur J. Marshall at the Methodist Church in DeKalb, and they spent the next 46 happy years together until his passing on Dec. 26, 1987. Mary and Art farmed in the Big Rock area for more than 30 years. After retirement, they moved back to Mary's family farm in DeKalb. Mary loved the farm and had a keen interest in discussing the crops with her family.
Mrs. Marshall was a longtime member of the English Congregational United Church of Christ in Big Rock. Mary had a passion for life and loved to tell stories about the old days. She enjoyed playing cards with her friends, the Willing Workers at church, entertaining and traveling; Hawaii and Alaska being her favorite trips. Family, friends and neighbors were of great importance to her. She was always sharp and witty, with a twinkle in her blue eyes. Mrs. Marshall was a homemaker who took great pride in her home and family. Mary was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister-in-law and aunt who will be deeply missed by her family and friends.
She is survived by her sons, Joseph (Sharon) Marshall of DeKalb and Earl (Sandy) Marshall of Sugar Grove; her grandchildren, Kevin (Colleen) Marshall of Big Rock, Jennifer (Bill) Cummings of DeKalb, Pamela (Robert) Boyd of Rockford, Jamie (Ron) Donohue of Coweta, Okla., Jeff (Janann) Marshall of DeKalb and David Marshall of Sugar Grove; her great-grandchildren, Christian Boyd of Rockford, Reno Colburn of Big Rock and Katherine Donohue of Coweta, Okla.; sister-in-law, Mary J. Benson of Cortland; niece, Mary M. Benson; nephew, Bob (Frankie) Benson; great-niece, Mary Ann Mathus; and great-great-nephews, Brandon Skau, Bryan Skau and Jeremy Westbrook.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Arthur Marshall; her great-niece, Marie Mathus; and numerous cousins.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 18, with a luncheon to follow, at the English Congregational United Church of Christ, 301 Rhodes St., Big Rock, with the Rev. Kenneth Kramer officiating. Burial will follow at the Fairview Cemetery in DeKalb.
Friends can visit from 4-8 p.m. Friday, June 17, at the Nash-Nelson Memorial Chapel, 141 N. Maple St., Hinckley.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the English Congregational United Church of Christ, Big Rock, or the DeKalb County Community Foundation.
The family wishes to thank Bethany Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center and DeKalb County Hospice for their kind and professional care.
Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Homes & Crematory. For information, visit www.NelsonFuneralHomes.com or call 815-286-3247.