Laurel "Laurie" Marie Marshall

Beloved daughter, sister, friend, and teacher, Laurie Marshall passed away on September 26, 2026 after 59 years of focusing on her faith in God, living her life to serve others, and bringing joy and inspiration to all those who crossed her path.

At a very young age, Laurie developed a disorder that caused nerve damage and weaker muscles in the arms and legs. But Laurie lived her life with the zest and freedom of any child growing up in the 1970’s. Laurie attended Mary Immaculate Catholic School and Ursuline Academy in Dallas. By age 13, she was using a wheelchair and experiencing her youth and teen years with gusto. By age 16, she was driving a specially equipped car and “cruising Forest Lane” with her friends on weekend nights.

When it came time for college, Texas A&M was the only choice (“Gig ‘Em!”)! She attended Fish Camp as a freshman in 1985 and knew without a doubt that she was an Aggie through and through. Laurie also became a Fish Camp counselor and co-chair in the following years so that she could teach incoming freshmen the beloved Aggie traditions she would hold dear for a lifetime.

After graduating from Texas A&M with a degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 1991, Laurie returned to Dallas to inspire a generation of 3rd and 4th graders at Dartmouth Elementary in Richardson ISD. Her beloved service dogs, Temecula and Jill, only enhanced her master teaching skills and added to the unforgettable experience her students were given in Ms. Marshall’s classroom. In 2006, Laurie was named one of Richardson ISD’s Teachers of the Year.

Fiercely independent, Laurie didn’t focus on the barriers her condition presented, instead she broke through them without hesitation. She owned and lived in her own condo, played tennis, swam, frequented Six Flags (unlimited roller coaster rides were her favorite!), and traveled to beaches, ski slopes, and the California coast for many adventures. She had a quick wit, was insatiably curious, and easily made friends wherever she went.

Laurie’s Catholic faith was the foundation of her strength. She lived by the words of Matthew 20:28, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life for others.” Although the time came quickly and unexpectedly, Laurie made the choice and was ready, when she could fight no more, to bravely return to her Lord Jesus Christ, in whose loving arms she now rests.

She inspired everyone she met and her blog, Strides of Faith (stridesoffaith.org), tells the story of her journey with hope, humor, and determination. She is survived by her devoted parents, Mary Ann and David Marshall; her sister and brother-in-law, Karin and Adam Zaner; her niece, Zoe Zaner; close friends, Liz Bowman and Scott Nicol; and a large community of friends, colleagues, and former students who have always been inspired by her faith and joy for life.

A funeral mass will be held at 2:00 PM on November 13, 2026 at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Farmers Branch. At Laurie’s request, please wear bright colors, not black. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Foundation (cmtrf.org/donate) in the hope that research will one day find a cure.