Ellen Griesbeck Marr

Mary Ellen Griesbeck Marr, beloved wife of Ernest D. Marr, passed away peacefully at her home on July 12th. A fourth-generation Memphian, eldest daughter of the late Joseph George Griesbeck and Margaret Gallagher Griesbeck, Ellen attended Immaculate Conception Elementary School and was a member of Catholic High School’s Class of 1938. She graduated from West Tennessee State Teachers College (now University of Memphis) in 1942 and worked as an Air Traffic Controller in Jacksonville and later Memphis during WWII, part of a lifelong infatuation with air travel. Years later she delighted students at a school assembly at Holy Rosary by taking a helicopter trip over campus.

After the war, Ellen devoted herself to homemaking for her husband and their children until 1961. Then Ellen taught fifth grade and junior high math at Holy Rosary Catholic School for 25 years, and served as assistant principal and interim principal during her time there. A popular teacher at Holy Rosary, to this day her children still hear from former students who share memories of Mrs. Marr as their favorite teacher. Following her retirement in 1986, she and her husband enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren. Ellen also renewed her interest in playing bridge and spent many happy hours doing so at the Nineteenth Century Club, where she was a member.

Ellen had an abiding optimism, patience, generosity, faith, intense loyalty, and a love of learning; a great love of God, family, neighbor, and children (especially babies). Any time a baby entered her field of view she was transfixed and soon captured his attention.

Ellen maintained she got everything she wanted in life – a wonderful husband for life, four children, grandchildren and her dream house – everything, except a bicycle. She lived the Morning Offering, each day offering up her prayers, works, joys, and sufferings in union with Christ. A childlike sense of fun masked her impressive organizational skills and high priorities. Gregarious, she cultivated friends of all ages throughout her 92 years.

Ellen leaves her loving husband of 69 years; two sons, Bill Marr (Carol) of Atherton, CA and Ray Marr of Austin, TX; a daughter, Margaret Deskin (Tom) of Shelton, CT; son-in-law Rich Baker of Columbus, OH; grandchildren Bill, Meredith, and Layne Marr, Melanie and Christian Deskin; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Roberson of Chattanooga and Anne Griesbeck of Memphis and a host of nieces and nephews, whose visits she always enjoyed. She was predeceased by her parents; her very dear daughter Marilyn Marr; and siblings J. G. Griesbeck, Jr., Charles Griesbeck, Margaret Orman, and Anne Swain.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made online at https://tcfapp.org/donation [please specify Marr/Griesbeck] or by mail to the Marr/Griesbeck Scholarship Fund, c/o Scholarship Manager, The Columbus Foundation, 1234 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43205 [(614) 251-4000]. Founded by her daughter Marilyn to honor Ellen, it funds scholarships for nursing students in the Columbus area, where Marilyn lived her adult life.

Visitation will be held at Memphis Funeral Home from 5 to 7 PM on Monday, July 16, followed by the rosary.

The funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Rosary Catholic Church at 10 AM, Tuesday, July 17, with interment at Memorial Park.