Donald Ray Marshall

Donald Ray Marshall, 87, passed away October 25, 2022 in Provo, Utah. An emeritus professor of humanities at Brigham Young University, Don is remembered for his passion for all the arts, for teaching, for his dedication to the International Cinema program, and for learning the names of every one of his students.

Don was born November 25, 1934 in Panguitch, Utah, the youngest of Earl and Eva Daly Marshall's seven children. In 1953 he came to BYU as a student, where he majored in Art, joined the Tau Sigma social unit, made lifelong friends, and composed award winning songs for the annual Songfest competitions. From 1955-58 he served a mission to Tahiti for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, developing a love for the people, the language, the music and the beautiful islands. While serving as a U.S. Army Reservist during the Berlin Crisis, Don was activated in 1961with the 144 Evac Medical unit and sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Though the crisis ended before he was deployed, he enjoyed his time co-directing a men's chorus called The Mormon Corpsman. Returning to BYU to earn his M.A. in English, he met Jean Stockseth, and they were married in 1964. After teaching at the University of Hawaii for two years, Don received his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut in American Literature and returned to BYU in 1971 to teach in the humanities department. In the late seventies, he served as bishop of the BYU 58th Ward of single young adults.

A life-long creative, Don loved writing, painting, photography, composing music, directing plays, and watching as many films as he could. He began his writing career early, winning, at fourteen, the The Deseret News silver medal for "excellence in writing and art" for the mystery serials he published in the Newsette, a Sunday insert for young writers. He went on to author two short story collections: The Rummage Sale (1972) and Frost in the Orchard (1977), as well as the novel Zinnie Stokes, Zinnie Stokes (1984) and a children's book, Enchantress of Crumbledown (1990). At the request of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he wrote the script, lyrics and music for a musical based on stories from The Rummage Sale that was performed in Salt Lake City, the SCERA Shell, and BYU Education Week.

A true film buff, Don led BYU's International Cinema from 1975 until he retired in 2000, building it into one the largest and longest-running foreign film programs in the country. An avid adventurer, he loved traveling to film festivals and art houses, spotting new films he could bring to campus, as well as leading study abroad programs to Madrid, Paris and London. He instilled a love of the arts in his students, friends and family - expanding their awareness and appreciation.

He is survived by his wife Jean Stockseth Marshall and his three children, Robin Marshall (Russ Moorehead), Brooklyn, New York, Jordan Andersen (Matt), Sandy, Utah, and Reagan Marshall, Los Angeles, California, as well as five grandchildren, Max Pinegar, Lucy Pinegar, Cleo Pinegar, Marshall Moorehead, and Holmes Andersen. He is also survived by his sister Barbara Marshall Black Willes, Orem, Utah. A memorial service will take place at a future date.