Evelyn Roach Marshall, 104, of Marshall, died Saturday, July 31 at Big Bend Retreat in Slater.
Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 7 at Ridge Park Cemetery in Marshall with William W. Harlow officiating. Friends may call from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, August 2 until Friday, August 6 at Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home in Marshall. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church and an online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com
Born August 19, 1916, in Faucett, MO, she was the daughter of the late James William Roach and Lutie Jane Dye Roach. Evelyn lived in Missouri her entire life. At an early age, she joined the Methodist church and as a high school junior, taught a Sunday school class. Evelyn attended schools in Faucett, St. Joseph, Maitland and a graduate of Jefferson City High School in 1934. After high school, she attended Justis Business College and worked for the Missouri State Highway Department for three and a half years. On December 28, 1938, she married William Worten Marshall who preceded her in death on November 30, 1971. She began her married life in Marshall. When Bill returned from World War II, the family moved to a farm in the Marshall Junction area where she lived for 56 years before moving back to Marshall in 2002.
Living the country life was new to Evelyn. They had no electricity, running water, or telephone, but she adapted quickly and learned many survival skills from Bill’s mother, Mary. While her children, Judy and B.J., were growing up, she was involved in leadership positions in the Girl Scout Council and the 4-H Club in the Junction area. During this time, she served as clerk of the Blackwater 100 School District. Health issues were important to her, and she was instrumental in procuring a Saline County health nurse and served on the County’s Health Council, Extension Council, and the Rest Home board.
In 1989, she received a 35-year plaque from the American Cancer Society. Through the years, she enthusiastically supported her unit as a township volunteer, crusade chairman, secretary, vice-president and president of the Saline County Unit.
Evelyn helped organize the first Fitzgibbon Hospital Auxiliary Bazaar and served as chairman of the bakery booth for 14 years. She held several stations in the Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, including Worthy High Priestess. She was also a member of the local Cosmopolitan Club, Extension Club and the Monday Club, serving as president.
Evelyn participated in and attended many political county, district, state, regional and national meetings and conventions. Her interest in politics began when she handed out brochures at Democratic gatherings for her “Uncle Fred Roach”, who was Buchanan County’s Circuit Clerk for many years. She was active in the Missouri Federated Women’s Club activities for over thirty years. Evelyn served as Public Affairs Citizenship chairperson for the 5th Congressional District for four years. Being a loyal lifelong Democrat, Evelyn served on the Saline County Central Committee for 20 years. She held every office in the Saline County Women’s Jefferson Club, as 1st vice-president of the 8th Congressional Women’s Democratic Club and as past president of the 4th Congressional District of Missouri Federation of Women’s Democratic Club. Governor Kit Bond appointed her to the Missouri Bicentennial Commission. In 1990, she was selected the “Missouri Federation Democratic Woman of the Year.”
Evelyn’s contributions to her community were immeasurable, but more importantly, she is remembered as a loving wife, mom, sister, grandmother and aunt who loved spending time with family and friends. Her interest included reading mysteries, traveling the world, living in the country, watching MU basketball, baking the best pies ever, the Red Hat Club, and hosting special family dinners.
Survivors include a son, B.J. Marshall of Marshall; two grandsons, Christopher and Matthew Streu, two great-grandchildren, Lexie and Jack Streu, and son-in-law, John Streu all of Kansas City; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, Evelyn was preceded in death by a daughter, Judy Streu and one sister, Betty Hackethorn.