Our beautiful Mother, Bertha “Mary” Marshall, 83, of Kansas City, KS, passed away Thursday, November 21, 2019, at the her home surrounded by her children and loved ones. The Rosary will be prayed at 4:00 p.m. with visitation continuing until 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26, at the Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia St. Lenexa, KS. Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1086 N. 94th St. Kansas City, KS. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Patrick Catholic Church.
Mary was born September 4, 1936, in Little Rock, Arkansas to Robert Lee and Lucille Winnie (Brackfield) Greiner. Mary moved with her family to Kansas City, KS where she attended Wyandotte High School. It was there that she met and fell in love with the Love of her life, Ervin J. Marshall, Sr. In 1956 they married and started their family. Mary was the definition of a successful working Mom. In addition to working a full time job, she could always be counted on for shuttling her children to school, sporting practices and games, and school events while also managing to prepare a delicious home cooked meal every evening.
For over 30 years, Mary worked for the Santa Fe Railroad where she met and sustained lifelong friendships with her co-workers. For a small woman, Mary had a reputation for being able to eat anything she wanted and not gain a pound. To the amazement of many of her co-workers, Mary could and would eat anything she wanted, and was known to be the first in line at any company luncheon, dinner or birthday celebration. Mary and her best friend, Donna Tranckino, met in high school and have been friends for over 60 years.
In the very little down time she had, she was a fierce bargain hunter. If she wasn’t at her kids’ sports games or at home making her house beautiful, she would be at Indian Springs Mall, looking for the latest deal.
Her love for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all animals was passionate. Her legacy continues through her children Joe and wife Maureen Marshall, Jenny (Mary’s only and favorite daughter) and husband Mike Riley, Jeff Marshall, Scott Aye, and Beau Marshall, 6 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren: Jessica and Tim Tunstill, and their children Coleton, Jamison and Willow; Julie and Mike Smith; Aimee and Chris Jarvis, and their children Abby, Jamison and Connor; Amanda and Sean Richardson, and their children Brooks and Elle Marie; Ervin and Kayla Marshall, and their children E.J., Benjamin and Ella; and, Olivia Marshall.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Lucille Greiner, husband, Ervin Marshall Sr., sister Helen and brother-in-law Jack Simpson, sister Faye Crowder, sister Louise and brother-in-law George Walker, brother Bob and sister-in-law Donna Greiner, sister Bobbie and brother-in-law Bob Pollan, and her beloved Yorkie Terrier, Clyde.
She is survived by her brother John and sister-in-law Anna Mae Greiner, numerous nieces and nephews, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, her Yorkie Terrier Bonnie and the ever reclusive Miss Kitty.