Mary Ben Marshall

Mary Ben Russell was born in Madill, OK, December 2, 1922, to Junius and Louise (Long) Russell.  Mary Ben started school in Oklahoma City, where her father was in the oil field business.  The family moved to Seminole as Mary Ben started high school, where she met Keith Marshall. Mary Ben graduated Seminole High School, earned an associate’s degree at Seminole Junior College, and worked at the Seminole Draft Board during WWII.  She and Keith married August 1, 1944, moving to several military assignments before settling in Ada, OK.  Their children, Karen Kay (1949) and Michael Keith (1951), were born in Ada, but the Marshalls were excited to return to Seminole in 1957. The family quickly engaged with the Seminole community.  Keith and Mary Ben had been high school debaters, and they eagerly passed that skill and competitive success to their children.  Mike was successful at high school tennis as well, and Mary Ben and Keith were known for their focused work to improve activities for the benefit of their kids and other competitors.  Mary Ben learned, then honed the emerging computer skills necessary for Duplicate Service, the local printing business that she and Keith owned. All the while, Mary Ben’s love for horseback riding never diminished.  What she began at age 3, continued with the increasing help of mutual horse-loving friends and trail riders until her most recent ride to celebrate her 95th birthday. She was committed to expansion of equestrian trails in Oklahoma, and was key in the Sportsman Lake equestrian trails development, always eager to participate and recruit for Oklahoma Equestrian Trail Riders Association (OETRA).  She had some significant horse accidents along the way, requiring surgery and rehab, but she always got back on the horse.  Her willingness to help anyone find a horse, find a better horse, learn to ride, learn to ride better, was notorious.  She was rather an icon of trail riding, for sure in Oklahoma and likely beyond. Mary Ben began teaching the couples Wedding Ring Class at the First Methodist Church shortly after the family moved to Seminole.  She taught her last class January 7, 2018.  Mary Ben and Keith Marshall were inducted into the Seminole High School Hall of Fame for debate success and in November 2017, were inducted into the Seminole Community Hall of Fame.  Both honors thrilled her, even somewhat surprised her – giving to the community and serving others is “just what you should do.” Her family meant the world to her. Her daughter Karen and husband Robb Woods live in Muskegon, MI. Her son Mike and wife Pat live in New York City. Her grandchildren were very special:  the late Robert Keith “Bo” Marshall, Tamsen and husband Chris Horton of Wyoming, Michigan; Reichen and husband Chad Beaver of Muskegon, Michigan, and Rob “Chip” Woods of Chicago.  Her great-grandchildren were extra special: Kipten and Tad Horton, Kord, Kade, and Kaylon Beaver.  Mary Ben’s Christian faith sustained her. She embodied the Golden Rule, treating all with tolerance, respect and compassion. Mary Ben Marshall will be greatly missed among family, friends, her church and horse riding friends., as well as two little rescue dogs and a Missouri Fox Trotter trail riding horse.  A memorial service will be at 1:00pm Saturday, January 20, at the First United Methodist Church, 910 W. Wrangler Blvd, Seminole, OK, under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home of Seminole. The United Methodist Women will host an informal reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the First United Methodist Church or the Oklahoma Equestrian Trail Riders Association (OETRA), 6608 N. Western Ave., PMB 220, Oklahoma City, OK 3116, http://www.oetra.com    Funeral Information: January 20, 2018, 1:00 PM First United Methodist Church - Seminole located at 910 Wrangler Blvd., Seminole, OK 74868