Millie Elana Marshall, 69, passed away peacefully on December 12, 2018, in her home surrounded by family and friends. Born in Bremen, Germany, August 14, 1949, Millie lived in Oakhurst, a small mountain community in the Sierra Nevada Mountains for more than 30 years.
Millie had been a beacon of light for the entire time she lived in Oakhurst. In the summer of 1980, she was in a horrific head-on motorcycle accident in which Millie was the sole survivor. Her will to live transcended the 95% chance that she would die from her injuries. Millie underwent 12-15 hours of surgery to save both her life and her vision. While Millie’s life was spared, her vision was not.
Nonetheless, Millie persevered. She had two sons (Fred, eleven, and David, eight) to support as a single blind parent. With assistance from family, she survived. Nancy Beckett, a 19-year-old woman, an acquaintance at the time, saw the extraordinary spirit this woman had. While Millie guided Nancy into a strong formidable woman, Nancy enabled Millie to become a self-sufficient blind person. She helped Millie—as a blind woman-- learn how to put on makeup, organize her home and kitchen, and take care of her family. Nancy took Millie grocery shopping and to clothing stores to put together a fantastic wardrobe. Millie mentored Nancy, as well, especially regarding life’s expectations. Don’t settle! Know what you want and go after it. Nancy and Millie took no survivors. Together they helped raise each other’s children, and shape their sons into formidable men.
If you ever saw a pretty petite strawberry blond walking on the sidewalks, with her guide dog and child to shopping at Rite-Aid or visiting her son at his gravesite, you were blessed a to see a glimpse of Millie Marshall.
Millie turned her “disability” into an ability. After she lost her sight she went on to college and majored in counseling. She continued her education and ultimately graduated from Fresno State University with a Master’s degree in family therapy.
Upon completing her education, Millie was hired by the Valley Center for the Blind in Fresno, CA. She counseled children, adolescents, and adults who had become recently blinded for thirteen years. She helped them understand that a blind person can live as full a life as a sighted person. No problem was too big. No challenge was too difficult. If something needed to be done, Millie found the way. In doing so, she touched hundreds and possibly thousands of lives of persons who learned to become productive members of society. Millie was so dedicated to the service that there were times she would give up her paycheck so that the center could survive.
In August of 2017, Millie became an Elks member. Her husband, Glenn Smith, was asked to be the exalted ruler of Oakhurst Elks Lodge 2724. Before accepting the position, he asked Millie if she was ok with it. He explained it would take a lot of time. She paused for a moment and then replied, “Only if I can be the Queen.” She was the Queen in the fall Oakhurst Historical Mountain Day parade. Millie sat atop their car waving to the crowd. She received lots of cheers.
Millie’s life was about love. She loved her family, she loved her friends, and she especially loved her husband of seven years, Glenn. Right now Millie’s mountain is dimmer by one exceptional beacon of light. That beacon of light is Millie Marshall’s persona. You could not walk the streets, shop the stores, or attend church without someone saying, “Hello, Millie! How are you doing?”, or “Millie, you look so beautiful today.” And they would be right, because her smile and beauty permeated the sun that shines and the air that we breathe.
What was the essence of Millie? It was her love of life, her sense of humor, and the tenacity that she could overcome obstacles. Her humor was outrageously funny. Goodbye, Miss Millie. Your friends and family love you. May you forever rest in peace.
She was preceded in death by her father Norman Bullock mother Alfeda Bullock her brother Eddie Bullock, and her son Jacob Marshall.
She is survived by her husband Glenn Smith, Oakhurst, CA her guidedog Arrissa, her brother Raymon Bullock, Reno, NV her sister Connie Harsin, Redding, CA her brother Michael Bullock, Redding, CA and finally her sister Denise Cox, Fresno California.
She was survived by her stepmother Eva Bullock, Oakland, CA, her stepsisters Danita Wynn, Oakland, CA Rebecca Spell, Merced, CA, Kathee Purdham, Boise, ID , Chris Toms, St. Petersburg, FL.
She was survived by her son Fred Marshall and her daughter-in-law Aimee Marshall, Corpus Christi Texas. Grandchildren included Corrie, Megan, and Skyler. She was blessed with three great grandchildren from this union.
She is survived by David and Juanita (Nita) Marshall her son and daughter-in-law, Fresno California. This also includes her grandchildren Shanden Polston, Fresno, CA, Bradlee Marshall, Fresno, CA Nichole Roland, Fresno, CA and Jenny Marshall, Fresno. She was blessed with seven great-grandchildren from this union.
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