Marshall Lewis Smith

Marshall Lewis Smith, aged 86, residing in Douglas County, Nevada, passed away at home on the morning of Thursday, April 27, 2023.

Marshall was born June 3, 1936, near the town of Snover in Sanilac County, Michigan, to Everett and Esther (Neff). He grew up there on the family’s farm with his brother Lloyd and sister Florence. Education was always important to Marshall, and he valued his experience in the one room schoolhouse he attended through the eighth grade. He graduated with honors from Deckerville High School, where he ran track, played football, and baseball. After graduating, he went on to study at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana where he met his first wife Joyce MacEndarfer and ultimately earned a Bachelor of Biology degree. Marshall and Joyce were married on June 7, 1957, in Marion. He went on to earn a Master of Science from University of Kansas, Emporia.

Marshall was recruited to teach science in the Los Angeles Unified School District and the family moved to the San Fernando Valley in the summer of 1965. Marshall had a long career as a professor of life sciences at Los Angeles Mission College in the San Fernando Valley. Here he met his second wife, Lilia Bridges Nieto and they were married November 30, 1985.

Marshall was truly transformed by his Christian faith and in turn, inspired others, providing wisdom and comfort. He had many favorite Bible verses, including Psalm 63:1-8 which describes the joy of fellowshipping with God even in times of tribulation and strife. He was also a self-described “weather freak”, and he could speak endlessly about the Sierra wave lenticular clouds and the impending storms.

Marshall’s parents, sister Florence, and Lilia, preceded him in death. He is survived by his four children, Michael, David, Tim (Katie), and Dawn (Larry), his stepsons Ed (Andrea) and Ernest (Naida), his grandchildren Emily (Raul), Garrison, Kellen, Emma, Ella, Cortney, Rebecca, Heather, Rachel, Ana, and Naomi.