Patrick Frazier Marrs Jr.

On May 7, 2018, we said farewell to Patrick Frazier Marrs, Jr., a kind, intelligent, fun-loving and generous man who touched the hearts of everyone he met. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Jan, his 6 children and their spouses, nearly a dozen grandchildren and a growing number of great-grands. Pat also leaves behind a tremendous network of friends and extended family who meant the world to him.

Pat began his life on December 27, 1929 as the only child of Patrick F. Marrs, Sr. and Bess Hannah Marrs of Fairmont, West Virginia. Family trips to the “big city” of Pittsburgh sparked his love of travel, and his passion for sports – especially baseball – also began in early childhood. Through his teenage years, he dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player. Pat fondly remembered growing up in West Virginia, even though he was teased as a “hillbilly” by family and friends outside the state.

Pat loved his college years, attending Ohio Wesleyan University where he majored in business administration and was a proud member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He graduated in 1950 and took a financial management position with GE in Lynn, MA. In late 1950, as the military draft loomed, he enlisted in the U.S. Airforce where he served honorably for nearly two years before a medical discharge in 1952. He rejoined GE and began a 55-year career with the company (39 years fulltime and 16 years as a consultant), living in seven different cities and working with nine different business units – from television to nuclear.

In the mid-1950s, Pat met his first wife, the late Patricia Jones Marrs, while on a business trip to Oakland, California. They were married for 25 years and raised a son, Bruce, and two daughters, Janet and Kim. After Patricia lost her battle with cancer, Pat reconnected with a family friend he had first met in California. This longtime friendship soon turned romantic, and Pat and Jan were married in late 1986. With Jan, Pat inherited three new daughters, Sandy, Karen and Lisa, plus a large and boisterous extended family extending from coast to coast.

Pat and Jan retired to Mesa, Arizona in 1991, and absolutely loved the location and lifestyle. He was a huge fan of the Arizona Diamondbacks and attended every opening game for 15 years, from the team’s inaugural season until 2014 when Pat and Jan moved to Charleston, SC to be closer to family.

Pat loved to travel – and he traveled all over the world from Europe to Japan to Russia to Africa to Australia/New Zealand to Saudi Arabia and more. He also dipped a toe in every U.S. state with several cross-country road trips under his belt. Pat loved live theater, sports, the game of bridge, honey roasted peanuts, history (especially the Civil War), Hallmark movies, ice cream, poker, reading, and playing card games – especially with his grandchildren. Being a grandfather was the highlight of his life, and nobody did it better than Pat.

Pat’s family and friends will forever remember Pat/Dad/Grampy and the good times we shared over the years. His family includes his wife, Jan L. Marrs; his children Bruce and Anna Marrs (Bend, OR), Janet and Garth Billings (Reno, NV), Kim and Gene Campbell (Spokane, WA), Sandy and Carl Beason (Brevard, NC), Karen and Todd Kuchenbecker (Charleston, SC), and Lisa and Andy Dudiak (Boulder, CO); his grandchildren Luke Mason, Ivan Marrs, Alex Jee, Parker Billings, Carson Billings, Tearsa Campbell, Tatiana Campbell, Melissa Charest, Jenna Olive, Cam Dudiak and Hannah Dudiak; plus 8 great-grandchildren.

A sincere thank you to the residents and wonderful staff of Bishop Gadsden for your friendship and caring support. Deep gratitude to Dr. Wilson, Hospice of Charleston (especially “Nurse Betty”), and Father Wilson for easing Pat’s transition to Heaven.

A celebration of Pat’s life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 12, 2018 in The Chapel at Bishop Gadsden. Memorials may be made to the Bishop Gadsden Resident’s Fund or the Bishop Gadsden Employee Appreciation Fund, c/o Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community, 1 Bishop Gadsden Way, Charleston, SC 29412.

Arrangements provided by CAROLINA MEMORIAL PARK, FUNERALS and CREMATIONS, 7113 Rivers Ave., North Charleston, SC 29406 (843)797-2222. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.carolinamemorial.com.