Barbara Jean Marshall

Barbara Jean Marshall passed away peacefully, with family by her side, on September 17, 2015 in Edmond, Oklahoma. She was born on June 29, 1931 to Elbert D. Curtis and Marie Rietmann Curtis in Gary, Indiana. She grew up in Huntington Park, California, moving later as an adult to Whittier and then Wexford, Pennsylvania. She is survived by her seven children, each one still believing he or she was Mama's favorite: Teresa and Wayne Curry, Marie and Hank Lurz, Susan and Fred Booth, Robert Marshall, John Marshall, Steven and Amy Marshall, and Betsy Marshall. She is also survived by eighteen grandchildren: Christopher and Erica Curry, Victoria and Renato Alcantar, Carolyn and Johnathan Peters, Katherine and Mark Randolph, Steven Curry, John Curry, Kevin Curry, and Richard and Takako Curry. Emilie Nesbitt and Gary Clontz, Jennifer Grosick, Curtis and Beth Booth, Laura Booth, Ruth Marshall, and Philip Marshall. Jonathan and Sara Marshall, Shannon Marshall, Shavonne and William Ayres, Timothy Marshall, Erin Marshall, and Samantha Marshall-Dunn. She was blessed with sixteen great-grandchildren. In Huntington Park as a child, she attended St. Matthias Elementary School and St. Mary's Academy where she graduated in 1949. She graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1955 and earned her Master's degree in Education from Penn State University in 1977. She was an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority for a number of years and an avid Bridge player. A natural teacher, she influenced scores of children as a third grade teacher at St. Alexis in Wexford and was awarded Elementary Teacher of the Year in 1974. She also was a Girl Scout leader and camping instructor with the East San Gabriel Valley Council and later with the Girl Scouts of Southwestern Pennsylvania Council. While in Pittsburgh, she became a realtor and earned her broker's license, working there until her retirement and move to Edmond in 2002. Far more important than any milestone achievements was the strong sense of values she instilled in her children. She taught us how to love, how to be gracious, how to give of yourself, how to pray. She was no nonsense and we can still remember her teaching us manners. "Captain Kangaroo is right-Please and Thank You are Magic Words"! Also Share, Answer the Telephone Politely, Wait Your Turn, Say You're Sorry, Think For Yourself, but Think About Others, Pretty Is as Pretty Does, and Don't be a Ratfink. A guest in her home was always welcome and it was a cardinal rule, "Never make a visitor to your home feel uncomfortable to be there." As we got older, she never would brow beat us, but would caution, "Never go on a second date with anyone who was rude to a waitress or mean to animals", "Be kind, but don't make friends too quickly", "Never trust anyone who refers to himself as 'Honest John'", and "It's all right to not have to have an opinion about everything". She bore no grudges, suffered disappointments silently, and always rooted for the underdog. She loved all sports, especially tennis and football and was a rabid Steelers fan. She loved mystery novels, English humor, crossword puzzles, Jeopardy, a good rhubarb pie and dark chocolate anything. She was comfortable in her own skin and never seemed out of place in her surroundings, whether she was staking a tent, teaching in front of a classroom or hosting a party. But mostly, she loved, was loved, and will be forever loved and cherished by all those whose lives she touched. A Rosary will said at St. John's Catholic Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, Tuesday, September 22nd at 10:30 AM with Mass following at 11 AM. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Barbara Jean Marshall please visit our Sympathy Store.