Jimmie Marshall

Waynesville, Jimmie Gene Marshall, 85, of Labelle, Florida and Waynesville, North Carolina, died February 18, 2016. His loving family was at his side in his home in Waynesville. He was born August 28, 1930 in Talihina, LeFlore County, Oklahoma, to the late Nat Marshall and Virginia LeFlore Marshall. He grew up in Talihina, spending his youth as a working cowboy, working cattle and breaking horses on family owned land and open range, as well as quarterbacking for the high school varsity football team. Jimmie was an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and a proud supporter of a variety of tribal initiatives. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and was an alumni of Oklahoma State University. Jimmie met Wilene Dyson, a nurse, while she was working at the Indian Hospital in Talihina, which later became the hospital for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. They were married in Stillwater, OK on February 17, 1950 and just celebrated 66 years of marriage. Their first son, Gene Vance Marshall, was born at the Indian Hospital in Talihina. Their second son, Jon Allen Marshall, and their daughter, Gale Rae Marshall, were born in Orlando, FL. He began his work in the citrus industry in Orlando in 1951 with Minute Maid. Later he became a Citrus Associate of the New York Cotton Exchange and past Director of Trade Associations at state and national levels. After retirement from A. Duda and Sons in 1991, he volunteered and served as a Project Manager for USAID in Poland. In 1952 he was raised a Master Mason and was a charter member, Perpetual Member, and Past Master of LaBelle Lodge No. 379. He was also a Perpetual Member of Talihina Lodge No. 73 AF&AM. He was active in the Scottish Rite and Araba Shriners in Fort Myers, FL and was a 38-year Jester and Past Director of the Fort Myers Court. Jimmie served several years as a member of the Regional Planning Council in Southwest Florida and was also appointed to the Site Selection Committee for Florida Gulf Coast University by the late Governor Lawton Chiles. He was a past president of the LaBelle Chamber of Commerce and honored as Boss of the Year and Man of the Year. He was an active in the First Christian Church of Labelle and was lovingly welcomed by the Francis Cove Methodist Church in Waynesville, NC. Jimmie touched many lives with his kindness, compassion, and generous spirit. He will forever be remembered for his unending love of family and friends, his tremendous sense of humor, and his zest for life. In addition to his parents, Jimmie is preceded in death by brothers, Nat, Charlie, and Jon Marshall and one sister, Virginia Eve. He is survived by his wife, Wilene Dyson Marshall; sons, Gene Vance Marshall Sr. (Becky) of Fort Myers, FL and Prospect, KY, Jon Allen Marshall (Roxann) of Houston, TX and Healdsburg, CA; and a daughter, Gale Rae Marshall of Canton, NC; four grandchildren, G. Vance Marshall Jr. (Jennifer) of Florence, KY, Jared A. Marshall of San Diego, CA, Lindsey R. Marshall of Houston, TX and Lacey N. Marshall of Los Angeles, CA. He is also survived by sister-in-law, Evelyn Marshall of Talihina, OK. A memorial service will be scheduled at a future date. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children - Tampa, 12502 USF Pine Drive Tampa, FL 33612-9411 or the church of your choice. Wells Funeral Homes & Cremation Services of Waynesville is in charge of arrangements. https://www.facebook.com/jimmie.marshall.7