John Alton Marshall

John Alton Marshall, 97, passed into Eternal Life on October 20, 2011 in Austin, Texas. He was born on the family farm near Heidenheimer, Texas on July 24, 1914. He was the son of Vernie Caldwell Marshall and Mary Hickerson Marshall. The Marshall farm has been continuously run by members of the family since 1848. He graduated from Academy High School and received his Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M in 1937 and his Master’s degree in 1945. Growing up on the farm and his years at Texas A&M gave him a work ethic and moral compass that sustained him throughout his life. He had seven brothers, all of whom attended Texas A&M and he was a loyal Aggie supporter all of his life.

As a young man, he was a Vocational Agriculture teacher in Holland, Tx. Later he joined the Texas Education Agency and during W.W. II was the Supervisor of the War Production Training Program. This involved teaching canning and preserving and repair of farm equipment, among other skills, to benefit Texans and the war effort. He later became an Area Supervisor of Vocational Agriculture Education and eventually became the State Director of Vocational Agriculture for the Texas Education Agency. He was instrumental in the activities of the Future Farmers of America organization and in furthering agricultural education in the state of Texas. He maintained contact with many of these teachers and FFA leaders until the end of his life.

After retirement at the age of 65, he and his wife, Alice, enjoyed ten wonderful years of camping and fishing with their truck, travel trailer and boat. They were also deer hunters. Additionally, they researched the history of the Marshall, Hickerson, Swan and Nunnallee families, all from Bell County, and self-published their findings for members of the family. He also published a book about his own life. Both Mr. and Mrs. Marshall were active members of Memorial United Methodist Church in Austin.

Mr. Marshall was a beloved and loyal son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend and Christian. He was known as Alton to his family, J.A. to his professional colleagues, John to his friends and neighbors and Pop to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was devoted to his late wife, Alice Swan Marshall, to whom he was married for almost 60 years, until her passing in 1996. An ardent supporter of education, he encouraged her to pursue and earn both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. Always an educator, he was delighted that both of his children graduated from The University of Texas at Austin and that his four grandchildren and their spouses are all college graduates.

He is survived by his daughter, Alice Ann Marshall Davis and her husband John M. Davis Jr. of Austin and his son, John Alton Marshall Jr. and his wife, Cindy Rutledge Marshall of Midland. He is also survived by four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. They include: John Ryan Davis and wife Julie Davis of Austin and their sons, Joel Marshall Davis and Jacob Riley Davis; Chad Marshall Davis and wife Darla Vaughan of North Richland Hills and their children, Olivia Ashton Davis and Owen Marshall Davis; Ian Thomas Marshall and wife Shelley Stringer Marshall of Carrollton, Texas and their sons, Ethan York Marshall and Duncan Thomas Marshall; Misty Leigh Marshall Casey and her husband Cody D. Casey and their daughters, Marin Afton Casey, Bennett Elanor Casey and Reese Schraeder Casey of Midland, Texas. He is also survived by one brother, Dr. Ellis Marshall and wife Jean Marshall of Temple, Texas; one brother-in-law, Raymond (Bob) Swan and wife Paulette Swan of Lake Jackson, TX. and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at Memorial United Methodist Church, 6100 Berkman Drive, Austin, TX 78723, under the direction of Cook-Walden Funeral Home, on Monday, October 24, 2011 at one o’clock in the afternoon. Visitation will precede the service from half-past twelve until one o’clock in the afternoon. Burial will be at four o’clock in the afternoon at the Holland City Cemetery, Holland, Texas.

Memorial donations may be made to Memorial United Methodist Church, 6100 Berkman Drive, Austin, TX. 78723 or the Operation Wish List Program of the Assistance League of Austin, 4901 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78756, which provides instructional materials to At Risk Austin ISD schools.

Memorial Tributes may be made at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com

IN GOD WE TRUST