Edward 'Tuff' Marshall

Edward Marshall

Edward Lyman "Tuff" Marshall, 85, served in the Army for 30 years and was a decorated World War II veteran. Mr. Marshall died peacefully with his family at his side at St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo, California, January 11, 2007.

He was born December 24, 1921, in Gould City to Charles and Bessie Marshall.

While serving in World War II, he stormed the beaches at Anzio, participated in the Berlin air drop, and was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action.

In 1964, while stationed in Colorado, Mr. Marshall married a childhood friend, Florence Belleville.

After he retired from the Army as a Sergeant First Class in 1965, he and his wife moved to Southern California to be near their family. They later settled in San Luis Obispo, where they lived until Mrs. Marshall's death in 2001. Mr. Marshall spent the last five years of his life in Oxnard, near his granddaughter, Kim, and her family.

Mr. Marshall loved spending time with his family. He enjoyed a good meal, friends said, as well as going to Chumash Casino, telling one of his many stories, eating chocolates, shopping at the commissary, baseball, and taking a nightly walk. His grandchildren referred to him as their "hoorah action hero." He will be remembered as a man who never met a stranger, and who stood for all that is good in this country.

He is survived by his brother, Chuck Marshall of Gould City; daughters and their families, Shirley and Arthur Purcilly of Medford, Oregon, and Nancy and Michael Johnson of Palm Springs, California; grandchildren and their families, Kim Evans Logie of Camarillo, California, Erik Evans of San Diego, California, and Michael Purcilly of Medford, and five great-grandchildren.

Graveside services, with veterans honors, will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, September 22, at the Lakeside Cemetery in Manistique, with the Reverend Don Bedwell officiating.

The Messier-Broullire Funeral Home of Manistique is assisting the family with arrangements.