Thomas Gray Marsh

Thomas Gray Marsh, a widely respected Oklahoma attorney, passed away on March 3, 2025. He was born 12/4/1930 to James Howard "Tarz" and Katherine Gray Marsh in Oklahoma City, OK but his father's position with Carter Oil Company required moves to Wichita, Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa throughout his childhood. A graduate of Will Rogers High School, He received a degree in Business Administration from the University of Tulsa in 1953. Attending night classes and working days as a clerk for Tulsa County Courthouse, he completed his Juris Doctorate in law from TU in 1957.

Following graduation, Tom took a job with Dyer, Powers, and Gotcher, which later grew into Marsh & Armstrong. His legal practice led him to specialize in Commercial Law, Banking Law, and Automobile Law with an emphasis focusing on automobile dealer/manufacturer relations. He served as General Counsel for the Oklahoma Automobile Dealers Association and Executive Secretary and General Counsel for the Tulsa Automobile Dealers Association. He was also a member of the Automotive Trade Association Executives. He was a member of the Tulsa and Oklahoma Bar Associations, licensed to practice in all of the Federal District courts of Oklahoma, and was admitted to practice before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver Colorado. He was appointed to serve as a Special Justice on the Oklahoma Court of Appeals in 1982.

Through his work with the automobile dealers, Tom was named Chairman of the Oklahoma Highway Users Federation and helped draft the legislation regarding the use of seat belts and car seats in automobiles. After retiring as Chairman, he was named Chairman Emeritus.

Tom met the "love of his life," Joyce Friesen, in 1950 and married on August 15, 1953. Tom and Joyce enjoyed nearly 60 years of marriage until her passing in 2012. They were both active in their church and were longtime members of First Presbyterian, where Joyce was in the choir and Tom taught Sunday school, served as a Trustee and an Elder, and for five years, traveled to Piedras Negras, Mexico to build houses for the underprivileged.



Tom was a longtime member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club of Tula and served as its president and later as Lieutenant Governor of the Texas/Oklahoma Division. He was a Legion of Honor recipient for his service. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma men's fraternity He also served on the board of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Oklahoma and was a past president of the University of Tulsa Law School Alumni Association. He was a lifetime member of the Wolcott Family Society as an Ancestor of Oliver Wolcott, a signatory of the Declaration of Independence.



Tom, an avid golfer, was a member of the Oaks Country Club. He enjoyed gardening and was honored to have had his home on the Tulsa Garden Tour. He was also engaged in fly fishing, tying his own flies, sailing, and collecting presidential campaign memorabilia, including items dating back to Andrew Jackson's era. In retirement, he started oil painting.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, brother James H. Marsh, Jr. USMC, killed in Korea,in 1951, his sister Melissa Downs, his wife Joyce, son-in-law Mark Mandeville, and grandson Samuel DeClerk. He is survived by his brother Finnegan Marsh, daughter Melanie Mandeville, son David (Marla) grandchildren Mallory Hannah (Royce), Mary Wiley (Jordan), Molly McCormick (Alex), Madeline Mandeville, Hannah DeClerk and Abigail DeClerk and three great-grandchildren, Millie, Miller and Mark.

In lieu of flowers please consider donations in Tom's honor to: The Covenant Living at Inverness Benevolent Care Fund. Covenant Living at Inverness, Att: Director of Philanthropy, 3800 W 71 St, Tulsa, OK 74132, or made online at covliving.org/giving.

A private family service has been planned.