Vernie Chester Marshall

Chester was born January 11, 1922, to Vernie Caldwell Marshall and Mary Hickerson Marshall in Little River, Texas, the fifth of eight boys, all of whom attended Texas A & M University. In 1976 the Marshall family was honored by Texas A & M for this accomplishment.

Chester's family was a pioneer family in Bell County, and his father's portrait was placed in the Texas State Capitol for his work in Texas rural education and in providing school buses for rural children. Following his father's dedication to education, Chester himself spent thirty-eight years as an educator in Bartlett.

Chester spent his childhood on the family farm doing chores and roaming the Little River bottom lands with his brothers. After graduating from Academy High School in 1940, he enrolled in A & M, joining the Corp Cavalry.

Two months short of graduation, Chester was called into the Army, where he served from 1943 to 1946, seeing time stateside and in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. After discharge, Chester returned to A & M, graduating with a BS in agricultural education in 1946. He earned his M. Ed. from A & M in 1957.

His loyalty to A & M and its traditions never wavered, and he was a fervent armchair coach, happiest when his Aggies were winning. He was especially proud of A & M's win over TU last Thanksgiving.

During his long career as an ag teacher at Bartlett High School, Chester formed and influenced many young men, and eventually young women, who have many stories about Mr. Marshall's shop and ag classes and field trips.

Throughout his career, Chester worked with students and FFA members, who competed in judging contests and livestock shows. When his daughter Shelley became his student, he helped her raise many prize-winning chickens, showing them at livestock shows across the state.

Early in his career Chester coached the girls' basketball team and was especially proud of leading the Lassies to a state championship in 1950. When daughter Kim played basketball for Bartlett, Chester again found use for his coaching skills with backyard sessions after every game.

In 1961, Chester married Kathleen Johnson Wacker, becoming a step-father to Nancy. They welcomed Shelley Gail in 1964 and Kimberly Ann in 1969. He was a loving, devoted and proud father and grandfather.

After retirement from education, Chester served as a Bartlett school board trustee for a number of years and was the Executive Director for the Bartlett Housing Authority from 1986 to 1997.

Chester cared for Kathleen during her battle with lung cancer, which she succumbed to in 1998. After her death, Chester continued living a full and independent life in Bartlett, but he spent many weekends with his daughters and families in Houston, up until his stroke and subsequent debilitating illness. He went peacefully to be with his Lord God, surrounded by the love of his three daughters.

Chester was predeceased by wife Kathleen, brothers R. P., Lee, Brooks and James, and by step-grandson Jeffrey Jackson. He is survived by daughters Shelley Aiken (Gary), Kim Belk (Craig) and Nancy Jackson (Ron). Surviving grandchildren are Ryan and Courtney Aiken, both students at Texas Tech University, Brianna Aiken, and Marshall, Macy and Marley Belk, who will miss their “Poopa” who was such a part of their lives.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Teinert Library in Bartlett.

Visitation was at Goodnight Funeral Home in Bartlett on Sunday, February 17, from 2:00 until 5:00 pm. Services were held at the First Baptist Church of Bartlett on Monday, February 18 at 10:00 am.