Bessie Marshall

Graveside services will be at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, March 23, 2013 at Dreamland Cemetery with Rev. Calvin Harfst, First Presbyterian Church, officiating. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Friday, March 22, 2013 at Brooks Chapel. Bessie Fay Donnell was born in Murray Texas, August 13, 1912. She was raised on her parent?s cattle ranch in Young County, Texas. She earned her BS degree in Home Economics from Texas Technological College, (Lubbock) in 1935. She married Douglas Marshall on October 4, 1936 in Eliasville, Texas. She and Douglas owned, operated and lived on their ranch in Randall County for 57 years before moving to Canyon in 1993. They ranched for 67 years before retiring. Bessie Fay was a lifelong Presbyterian. She was a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Bessie Fay was an accomplished dietician, providing healthful meals for her family. She was an talented seamstress, and regularly made the shirts for her son and dresses for her daughter. Her skill at knitting and quilting produced many beautiful utilitarian items and works of art for her family. She served up large quantities of patience, tolerance and wisdom which benefited her family. Those who knew her well were amazed by the fact that even though she was deaf from early childhood, she was able to accomplish all of this (without the benefit of hearing aids!). She was a skilled lip-reader. She was preceded in death by her Parents: Charles and Edna Donnell, son Thomas D. Marshall (at 12 years of age), and siblings Palmer Donnell, Edward Donnell, Louis Donnell, Hugh Donnell, and Eloise Duncan, as well as her husband Douglas and his siblings: Earline Wallace, Annie Lee Terry, Rosalind (?Missy?) Cox and Walter Marshall. Son: Dr. Arvle E. Marshall, and wife Esther of Opelika, Alabama, and their children: Scott and his wife Diane, and their children Nicholas and Julia, of Tallahassee, Florida and Mary Margaret Dodd and her husband Terry and their children William, David, Charles Jacob (?CJ?), and Eli, of Statesboro, Georgia. Daughter: Dr. Mary Gladys Marshall of Bryan, Texas. Also Francis Ball Donnell (wife of Hugh Donnell), and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Friday, March 22, 2013 at Brooks Chapel. The family suggests memorials be to the First Presbyterian Church in Canyon, 904 19th St. Canyon, TX 79015, Daughters of Republic of Texas, DRT 510 E. Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78752, BSA Hospice of Amarillo, PO Box 950 Amarillo, TX 79176, or a charity of your choice.