Terry Marshall

Born July 11, 1942, in Lancaster, PA, Marshall graduated from Westfield (NY) High School in 1960.  She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from what was then called Carnegie School of Technology (Pittsburgh, PA), in 1964.  A lifelong visual artist, her work was seen all over the country, although Marshall decided not to pursue success through the gallery system around 1968, becoming more focused on private art teaching.  Throughout the 1970's, Marshall was called upon to work with reform schools and prisons as a guest art teacher...a work she particularly cherished.
Marshall worked various jobs until she retired in her early 60's.  In 1978, she oversaw and/or personally painted dozens of decorative patterns on the ceilings of the then-refurbished Skirvin Hotel, in OKC.  After that, such work either dried up or no longer appealed to her.  There followed far more plebian forms of employment, Rent-A-Maid, BarBelles, and even Burger King.  After several years of these jobs, her family in New Jersey set her up for an interview for a job with the NJ State Council On The Arts, as a Grants Officer. That job brought many joyous occasions but also no small disappointment; her position was one of several that the Newark Star-Ledger newspaper attacked as being one of 'indefensibly extravagant expense in the state budget'. 

Eventually, Marshall returned to Oklahoma, where her mother had lived for over 20 years.  While taking care of her mother, Marshall taught pre-school and kindergarten for various private schools in Norman.  Her written stories about this time are among her very best writing. 

Marshall wrote more history-based fiction as her vision declined during her last years.  However, her visual gift, especially as a seamstress, was unmistakably vivid to the end.
Marshall is survived by her son, Beau Mansfield, produced during a marriage to Robert Mansfield.  They divorced in 1978.  Marshall never remarried.
Marshall's lifelong friend since age 9, Lyda Salmons, passed only weeks before her own passing.  Marshall and Salmons could not speak on the phone, no matter how dire the situation being discussed, without cracking each other up hysterically.
Terry Marshall will be missed...
 

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