Eloise Peaden Marshall

Eloise Peaden Marshall, long-time resident of Tallahassee, passed away on Saturday, January 30, 2010, at her home in the Lafayette Park neighborhood. She was approaching her 98th birthday. She was born to Ella and Dallas Peaden on their farm in Blackman, Okaloosa County, Florida on May 3, 1912, the year the Titanic sank. She was the youngest of 6 siblings, (four sisters and one brother). She met Addison Franklin Marshall, a Civil Engineer and land surveyor with the State Road Department, recently graduated from the University of Florida, while he was staying at the Okaloosa Hotel, which was managed by Eloise's mother. They married in 1932 and soon settled in Tallahassee where Addison worked for the City of Tallahassee, eventually becoming the City Engineer. They built their first house on Washington Street in the Lafayette Park neighborhood in 1934. They had 3 sons, Addison Franklin, Jr. in 1934, William Dallas in 1941, and Bryant Peaden in 1948. Eloise's husband of 52 years passed away in 1984. After his death, Eloise and her children established the Addison Franklin Marshall Scholarship in Civil Engineering at the University of Florida, which today is one of the largest endowed scholarships in Civil and Coastal Engineering. Eloise had a passion for flowers and gardening. She grew award-winning camellias, (one named "The Eloise", a new species which she cultivated) and always had lots of colorful plants and flowers in her yard. Passers-by would frequently see her gardening or planting a new tree, sometimes in a neighbor's yard. She often gave her plants and flowers to friends and even those who she did not know, but who would just stop and compliment her on her green thumb, as she was digging in the dirt. Eloise won several "Most Beautiful Yard" awards and was an inspiration to others to take pride in their neighborhood. She worked as a florist, a practical nurse and a playground supervisor in Lafayette Park, but she was mostly a housewife raising her boys. During World War II, Eloise and Addison opened their home to house soldiers stationed in the area and needing a warm place to stay. The family had a cottage at St. Teresa Beach for many years, where the children spent weekends and summers, and learned to love the sea and boating. Eloise is preceded in death by her husband, Addison, and her parents and siblings. She is survived by her sons, Addison Franklin Marshall, Jr. and his wife, Ann of Panama City, William Dallas Marshall and his wife, Linda, of Tallahassee, and Bryant Peaden Marshall of Panama City; grandsons, Murray Marshall and wife, Vicki of Gulf Breeze, Florida, and Graham Marshall and his wife, Keely; and great- grandchildren, Attie, Colin and Kingsley Marshall of Fort Worth, TX, as well as numerous extended family members and relatives, many in Tallahassee. Eloise enjoyed a long and fruitful life, and any who knew her appreciated her devotion to her family and community. She has left the world a more beautiful place as a result of her love of all things living and flowering. We are fortunate to have had her with us on this earth. She is now in Heaven with her loving husband, Addison, after 26 years of being apart, and now together for eternity. Graveside service will be held 1 p.m. EST Wednesday, February 3, 2010, at St. John's Episcopal Church Cemetery on Call Street. Family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. EST Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at Culley's MeadowWood Riggins Road Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to either; Covenant Hospice, 1545 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite 102, Tallahassee, FL 32308 or the Addison Franklin Marshall Scholarship in Civil Engineering at the University of Florida. Make check payable to UF Foundation, Inc, (in memo line write "Addison Franklin Marshall/CCE # 001933), and mail to UF Engineering Department, Attn Greg Fulginiti, P.O. Box 116580, Gainesville, FL 32611-6580. Arrangements are under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.