Jay Michael Marion M.D.

Jay Michael Marion, M.D., loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and doctor of medical oncology and hematology passed away peacefully at home in Overland Park, KS on March 13, 2024. He was 73 years old.

Jay, or Popoo as his grandchildren called him, was raised in St. Louis to Harry and Lorayne Marion. After attending Ladue Horton Watkins High School, he attended the University of Missouri - Columbia for his Chemistry degree. He continued his studies at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, graduating in 1977. After an internship and residency at Vanderbilt, he returned to his hometown St. Louis for a fellowship in medical oncology at Barnes Hospital with Washington University. He then served as a faculty member at Washington University School of Medicine where he was the Medical Director of the Barnard Cancer Center and Director of the Missouri Baptist Cancer Center.

While there, he met Carol, fell in love and married in 1997. Jay and Carol moved to Shreveport, LA where Jay followed his passion for teaching at the LSU School of Medicine. He was a Professor Emeritus of Medicine; the Nancy Jane Sentell Seale endowed professorship of Cancer Palliative Care; Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; faculty member of the Department of Medicine and Feist-Weiller Cancer Center; member and counselor of the Gamma Chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha; recipient of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine award. He devoted his career to his patients and also his students, who nominated and awarded him the Excellence in Teaching Award, the highest teaching award at the School of Medicine. Upon retirement, Jay and Carol moved to Overland Park, KS to be closer to family.

Jay had a passion for music and enjoyed introducing his grandchildren to the songs of the Beatles and teaching them about Star Wars. He enjoyed discussing Bob Dylan and other musicians with friends and family, and selecting the right song for the moment from his collection he built over the years. He was also passionate about astronomy, his cats, and always taking time for long conversations with his friends and colleagues around the world.

The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff who cared for him the past several years for his cancer treatments.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Ann Marion (nee Timmermann); step-daughters Melissa (Benjamin) Caldwell and Amanda (James) Elliott of Overland Park; step-son Timothy (Amy) Timmermann of Trenton, IL; daughters Amy (Aviram) Gaon, Gayle (Aaron) Teper, and Dana Marion; grandchildren Raylynn and Joanna Timmermann, Greyson and Kira Caldwell, Brayden and Ryan Elliott; his brother Joel (Carol) Marion and sister Marsha Weinberg of St. Louis; his brothers and sisters-in-law Sharon (Joseph) Varel, Alan (Karen) Timmermann, Janet (Richard “Hoss”) Seitz, Lisa (Eric) Sheldon, Laure (Jon) Werner; mother-in-law Ruth Timmermann of Breese, IL. He is preceded by his parents, Harry Marion and Lorayne (nee Darrish) Marion; father-in-law Richard Timmermann; and brother-in-law Arthur Weinberg.

A funeral service will be held on Monday March 18, 11:30 AM at Berger Memorial Chapel, 9430 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, MO. Visitation from 11 -11:30 AM. Interment will follow at Beth Shalom Cemetery, 650 White Rd., Chesterfield, MO 63017.

All are welcome to join us for Shiva at the home of Joel and Carol Marion immediately following the service to 7 PM and on Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1478 Cherry Creek Lane, Manchester, MO 63021.

Memorial contributions preferred to LSU Health Sciences Foundation Marion Endowment for Compassionate Care, 318-861-0855.