Esther W Marshall

Esther W. Marshall, of Opelika Alabama, passed away June 8, 2025, after a brief illness.

She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Arvle E. Marshall, and their children Scott Marshall (Diane) and Mary Margaret Dodd (Terry).

Esther has 1 sister, Mary Marcus Miltonberger (Ken), of Bend, Oregon.

Grandchildren include  Nicholas Marshall and Julia Marshall Hermanas (Christian), William Dodd, David Dodd, Charles Dodd, and Elijah Dodd. They have 1 great-grandchild, Christopher Dodd.

Esther was born in Andrews, Texas, and grew up going into the oil fields with her father, spending Summers with her grandparents at Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, and fishing on Galveston Island. As a young woman, she worked at a Girl Scout Camp, serving as a counselor. Due to her relationship with Arvle, who was planning to be a veterinarian, she was tasked with de-scenting a skunk. She attended Texas Tech, where she was studying Horticulture and learned to dislike chrysanthemums because she had to tend a greenhouse full of them.

After marrying Arvle, who was now in Vet School at Texas A&M, she worked as a secretary in the anatomy department because she could read Latin. Upon his graduation and the birth of their children, she became a devoted wife and mother, who served her family well as a homemaker, fiber artist, and Master Gardener.. As a fiber artist, she taught many people spinning, and enjoyed weaving tapestries and small goods. She was a founding member of the East Alabama Fiber Arts Guild, and was a weaver with the Lee County Historical Society at the Historical Museum in Loachapoka. She made many items of clothing, including her signature Hugg.

She passed her love of gardening on to her children and grandchildren, planting everything from azaleas to zinnias. It was said she could plant popsicles and grow pine trees.

When she and Arvle moved out to rural Lee County, she enjoyed working on the property, planting native azaleas, establishing an herb garden, and painting the interior of the house bright colors.

She loved the beach, and collecting sea shells, remembering where each one came from and the story behind finding them. She loved bright colors, flowers of all sorts except mums, and she could grow all sorts of  plants except orchids. She tried, but just couldn’t do it. She will be missed by her family and everyone who knew her.

She is now perfected, in her new Heavenly home, likely picking up shells on the beach or digging in the soft soil of a beautiful garden.

Memorial Celebration will be held Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 10:00am at First Methodist Church, Opelika Alabama.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home is directing.

Esther requested there be plenty of bright colors at her service. The family requests that any who attend wear something bright and colorful., and no black, please.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the 2 causes she loved: Heifer Project International ( https://www.heifer.org/ ) or The Alabama Sheriff’s Girls Ranch ( https://www.alabamasheriffsyouthranches.org/ )