Roger Marshall

Roger Marshall Our Hubby, Dad, Grandpa and Great-Grandpa, Roger Marshall, peacefully left this earth on January 6, 2016, after a massive stroke. He was the second of three sons, born to Sidney and Velma (Harris) Marshall in Bakersfield, Calif., in April 1940. While attending East Bakersfield High School, he excelled in football and wrestling. As a senior, he qualified for the state wrestling championships held in SF. At Bakersfield Junior College he was on the 1959 football team that played in the Jr. Rose Bowl at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Ever proud of that, he would let you know he'd played there when a game was being televised from the Rose Bowl. Roger always had an interest in building because his dad owned King-Marshall Lumber Company in Bakersfield. He also showed an interest in architecture in high school and found he was very good in drafting classes and model building. Roger played the accordion and entertained service and fraternal groups. His parents were ready to continue his lessons in LA but other plans were brewing. He met the love of his life, Judy Sledge, in high school and they were married in 1960. With his wife and new baby, Lori, they moved to San Luis Obispo for him to attend Cal Poly. He graduated in 1964 with a degree in Architectural Engineering and a Design degree in 1965. Roger attributed more than the architectural education he got at Cal Poly to his respected instructors and mentors: Wes Ward, George Hasslein, Ken Schwartz, R.L. Graves and Paul Neel. He learned to think logically and to question. His interest in ceramics started in college when he'd go to the ceramics department to throw pots on the wheel to relax. Selling his creations at Poly Royal supplemented his income during those years. After graduation, he went into business with the Cal Poly ceramics instructor, Roger Bailey, at the shop on the corner of Pismo and Archer Streets with the kiln being right out there on the corner firing at least once a week! In 1966 Roger continued in business by himself and began his business name, Architectural Arts. He was proud of the fact that he had been in business for 50 years! Roger loved creating and tried everything, including casting metals, leaded glass, etched and sand-blasted glass, carved wood, furniture and anything he could do with his hands. Roger had the privilege of attending Paulo Solari's summer program in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1965 working on Archosanti. Roger started designing and building with his first job being a studio for a Morro Bay painter and by word-of-mouth he was kept busy for over 30 years designing and building and employing many San Luis guys who are now in business for themselves. Roger's nickname was Big Bear so they were Big Bear Construction. Simultaneously, he also had a booming ceramics business that employed at least 10 guys. He had a shop manager and they traveled to the gift shows in LA, SF, Seattle and Denver twice a year which kept those workers busy filling orders and CME Trucking coming in every day to take a load that was being shipped all over the western U.S. and Hawaii. Roger did work for the city of San Luis Obispo carving entrance signs (some are still in place), signage for Mission Plaza and carved parking lot and park signs. Roger served on the Design Review Board when it was created in 1968 then later on the Architectural Review Commission in 1977-1985. When Roger was hired to design and build a home for someone, there was a lot of consultation at their home. He wanted to see how they lived and planned accordingly. He always built a model for the clients and as he built, he always included many of his unique "extras." As trends changed, Roger adapted and the pottery shop became a cabinet shop because people weren't building new homes but were remodeling kitchens. As Roger went into semi-retirement, he started up the pottery studio again but he would NEVER use the word "retired," because he always went out to the shop every day. He had accounts in locations that he and Judy could drive to which gave them time "on the road." Contractor friends would come by with projects they knew, for sure, Roger could do for them. There wasn't anything he wouldn't try, at least once. He was just a very creative man! Some of his ideas never came to fruition but he had the joy and sometimes the frustration of trying to put them into use. Roger was well-respected among his circle of friends. In 1981 he joined E Clampus Vitus and enjoyed all the shenanigans, camaraderie and California history associated with that organization. In recent years his two sons have become members and shared good times with their Dad on the Clampouts twice a year. His love of history led him to join the Odd Fellow Lodge #168 here in San Luis Obispo and to help form Minor Historians. He also joined Native Sons of the Golden West. Recently Roger and his daughter, Brenda, have collaborated on marketing Marshall Canyon Seasoning which Roger created and has been making for years. It's been quite an endeavor and she will see it through with her Dad's spirit still guiding her. Roger enjoyed camping, barbecuing, telling "stories," local history, photography, football, NASCAR and drag racing. To his family he was "the Rock." Family was always important to him and gave him purpose to live his life. Roger saw opportunity in every problem and confident in a solution. He was generous with his knowledge and time and his word could always be trusted. Roger will truly be missed by many! He was preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother, Jon Marshall. Roger's legacy continues through his wife of almost 56 years, Judy; his daughters, Lori and husband Ross of Lincoln, Calif., and Brenda Serrano and friend Wade Howard of Newbury Park, Calif.; sons, Craig Marshall and wife Sherri of Paso Robles, and Todd Marshall and wife Lisa of Los Osos. Grandchildren: Devin Snyder and wife Aimee of Alturas, Calif.; Garrett Snyder and fianc‚ Allison Felton of Los Angeles; Steven Serrano of Newbury Park; Jessica Serrano and friend Hayden Olson of Newbury Park; Skylar and Sierra Marshall of Paso Robles; Adelina Marshall of Los Osos; Spencer and Hunter Chamberlain of Los Osos and new great-granddaughter, Sonora Grace Snyder, daughter of Devin and Aimee. He also lives on through his brother, Wayne Marshall and his wife Pat of Bakersfield as well as nieces, nephews and cousins. Roger was spiritually and physically surrounded by his loving family at the end of his life and he left his children and grandchildren with a beautiful heritage of trustworthiness, passion for the things in life that you love and the importance of a good work ethic. Roger donated bone, soft tissue and skin before he was cremated and everyone should consider registering with California Donor Registry by getting a form from: DonateLIFEcalifornia.org. Interment will occur when Judy and Roger will be reunited in the original Odd Fellows Mausoleum in San Luis Obispo. In Roger's memory, donations may be made to the Stephen Macie Memorial Scholarship Fund. Stephen was a very good friend of Roger's who died of complications of a stroke. Mail to: 520 Dana St., San Luis Obispo, Calif., 93401. Sign his guestbook at sanluisobispo.com/obituaries