Eugene Marshall

Gene Marshall passed away October 14, 2013 at the age of 76 at Cottage in the Meadow after a courageous battle with cancer. Gene was born on his parents’ farm in Baudette, Minn., located on the Canadian border along the Rainey River on a cold winter’s day, January 20, 1937. Gene remembered his parents, Vernon & Mildred Marshall, telling him it was 35 degrees below zero and the doctor had to come by horse and sleigh. Gene came to Washington state with his family at the age of five, as did many of their friends and family who lived in the Nebraska area. They farmed in the Kittitas Valley in the Badger Pocket area. Gene graduated from Kittitas High School where he made many friends. He joined the Army after graduation and spent three years in France and was sent to engineering school in the Black Forest in Germany. He purchased a car and he and his friends traveled all over Europe, placing his car on a ship and going to England. After his discharge from the military he came home and married Norma Boyd on August 22, 1958. In 1960 he began working for the Caterpillar dealer, a career that lasted 44 years. He taught hydraulics and electrical evening classes at Yakima Valley Community College for a number of semesters and was on the Board of Directors for the Mechanics Advisory Board for several years. When the Lighthall family acquired the Allied Division Gene volunteered to go into that area and obtained training in Denver, Co. where he went deep into the gold and silver mines - going down 3,500 feet and finding out what dark was all about! Gene was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife Norma, his son Dave, granddaughters Alexandra, Taylor, and Carter, and grandson David. He is also survived by brothers Sid (Sherry) of Ellensburg and Jerry (Romaine) of Pennsylvania. He had two very special friends, Dick and Lee, who accompanied him to North Star for all of his treatments; and his neighbor and friend Jack; and his yard buddy, Mary Jane. Gene’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Tom Boyd and all the nurses who took such good care of him at North Star. When Dr. Boyd had nothing more he could do for Gene to help him overcome his aggressive cancer, he turned Gene’s care over to hospice and Cottage in the Meadow. We would like to also extend a special thank you to all the hospice and Cottage in the Meadow staff - everyone was so kind and caring - Gene couldn’t have been in better hands. A Celebration of Gene’s Life will be held by the family on Sunday, November 3rd at the Yakima Valley Arboretum, from 1 to 4 PM. (Nob Hill exit 34, going east to the light across from K-Mart, turn left and follow the road to the left.) The following is a special prayer that was given to Gene and sums up his favorite sport. A Fisherman’s Prayer God grant that I may live to fish until my dying day, and when my final cast is made I then most humbly pray. When in the Lord’s safe landing net I am peacefully asleep, that in His mercy I be judged as good enough to keep. Amen. Memorial contributions can be made to Cottage in the Meadow or the charity of your choice. Arrangements are handled by Valley Hills Funeral Home of Yakima. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eugene Marshall, please visit our flower store.