James Marshall
Grafton |
James Russell “Jim” Marshall, 86, passed away at 8:12 a.m., Saturday, March 16, 2024 at his home in Grafton, the same home in which he entered this world on July 2, 1937.
Jim was a lifelong resident of Jersey County, and the son of the late Louis Edward and Ruth Esther (Calhoun) Marshall. He graduated with the Class of 1955 from Jersey Community High School, and shortly after his graduation enlisted with the United States Army.
He married the love of his life, Elsie Jean Buis on October 31, 1959 in Alton, Illinois. Together their marriage has been blessed with many wonderful memories shared with their daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Following his return home from the service, he began working the family farming operation in Jersey County, which he continued to do with great pride and honor throughout his life. In addition, Jim and Jean have been co-owners, alongside their daughter Kim, of Marshall Chevy-GMC in Jerseyville the past 20+ years.
Jim was an avid outdoorsman, and when he was not tending to the daily operations of the farm, enjoyed sitting along the banks casting a fishing line.
He was a man of few words, but when he did speak up, you could be confident in the fact that whatever he had to say he was passionate about it and that he would speak straight from his heart. In his later years, he enjoyed spending time at the dealership, greeting customers as they entered the showroom floor, and trading stories at the morning roundtable at Fran and Marilyn’s Restaurant in Jerseyville.
Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Jean Marshall of Grafton; four daughters, Kim Marshall and her companion, Stan Hudson of Jerseyville; Julie and Haywood Webb of Sevierville, Tennessee; Amy and David Wallace of Springfield; and Janelle Smith of Jerseyville; six grandchildren, Erica (Dustin) Heitzig of Jerseyville, Mandi Smith and her companion, Ed Sawyer of Fieldon, Allie (Ross) Moore of Winter Garden, Florida, Keith Wallace of Clermont, Florida, Matthew Wallace of Springfield and Daniel Wallace of Springfield; five great-grandchildren, Mia McCoy of Fieldon, Carter McCoy of Fieldon, Charli Sue Sawyer of Fieldon, Kate Heitzig of Jerseyville and Madeline Moore of Winter Garden, Florida.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Andrews.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, March 22, 2024 at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m., Saturday with Rev. Brent Meyer officiating.
Burial will follow at Noble Cemetery in Otterville.
Memorials may be given to First Baptist Church in Jerseyville or to the Hamilton Primary School, in care of the funeral home.
Memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.crawfordfunerals.com.
Crawford Funeral Home
