Marjorie A. Asbill

Marjorie Ann Asbill, 83, a long-time resident of Lubbock, Texas, passed away on August 8, 2015 with her adoring family by her side. She was born on July 5, 1932 in Bula, Texas and moved to Lubbock where she attended Lubbock High School and earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Texas Tech University.

She married her husband, Smitty Asbill, on March 23, 1951 and two weeks later he shipped off to serve in the Navy in the Korean War. After his service, his completion of his degree at Texas Tech and Marjorie receiving her Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology, they settled in Irving, Texas where Smitty attended Medical School and Marjorie accepted a position as Director of Special Education. She and Smitty would provide foster care for three children before finally beginning their own family. After their first two children were born, they returned to Lubbock in 1964 where Smitty began his medical practice at Methodist Hospital and Marjorie opened a private speech clinic. She also worked in the rural school communities throughout the years while raising her five children. Marjorie also opened a gift shop at the hotel formerly known as South Park and then opened a toy store called The Playhouse which delighted children for years.

After the children were all grown, Marjorie and Smitty moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where Marjorie taught speech at the schools on the reservations for several years. When offered a Speech Director position in Fairbanks, Alaska at the age of 68, Marjorie did not hesitate to go and worked there for four years, braving the below zero weather, flying to the outlying communities on Bush planes, riding to schools on snowmobiles and even making an emergency landing where she climbed on the wing and rolled into the snow bank as the pilot slowed because he could not land for the snow. She worked with Special Olympics and enjoyed helping children with all levels of disability. After Alaska, she and Smitty moved to Hilo, Hawaii for a year so she could continue her work with children, especially Autistic children. They would return to Albuquerque in 2002 not long before Smitty would pass. Marjorie then set off on her adventure alone and accepted a position in John Day, Oregon followed by a position in Farmington, New Mexico and finally returned to Lubbock, Texas. She loved working with children living in rural areas and providing much needed services to children who struggled with speech and disability. In fact, Marjorie helped the University of New Mexico with the design of a school in Africa for Autistic children. At the age of 78 she entered the Ph.D. program as it was her dream to earn her doctorate. A physical issue with her hip derailed her pursuit of this goal after a year, but that did not stop her continuing to practice as a speech pathologist. She worked for several more years between hip surgeries, and spent the last year rolling herself up and down the hallways in her wheelchair in order to continue working with children. And until the final days of her life, was certain she would continue to teach if she could just physically get her hip well enough.

Marjorie was not only dedicated to her profession, she was also equally dedicated to her family. Marjorie was creative and a master seamstress. She sewed for the children and made the most elaborate Halloween costumes, recital outfits and school costumes. She never missed a recital, a game or a school event if at all possible for all five children, a feat which seemed impossible to most but looked easy when she did it. She adored all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved to hear about what they were doing and participate in their lives. And her children and grandchildren adored her. She was the epitome of compassion, strength, grace and devotion. She never raised her voice and stood steadfast in her faith and values. She will be missed deeply and our hearts break with her loss. We take comfort in knowing that she will continue to watch over her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren from heaven where she has surely already earned her wings.

Marjorie is predeceased by her husband of 52 years, Dr. Smitty Asbill, Jr., her daughter, Lisa Asbill Morgan and her parents, P.O. and Arkie Smith.

She is survived by her four children: daughter, Leslie Prichard of Denver, Colorado; son, Robert Asbill and wife Julie of Rockwall, Texas; daughter, Lea Anne Oliver and husband Todd of Shallowater, Texas; and daughter, Laurel Kressler of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Ben, Greg, Briaun, Brishel, Jacob, Brooke, Alex, Morgan, Ashlea, Chris, Cody, Austin and Addison and 4 great-grandchildren, Adrian, Juniper, Corben and Logan.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her memory to honor this dedication to children to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 Fourth St. STOP 6238, Lubbock, TX 79430. The family will receive friends at Resthaven Funeral Home on Thursday, August 13, 2015 from 6-8 pm, with funeral services held in the Abbey Chapel at Resthaven funeral home on August 14, 2015 at 10 am.

Condolences and the guestbook can be found at www.resthavenfuneralhome.com.