January 5, 1948 – April 23, 2023
Gary W. Marsh passed away peacefully at his sister’s home in Glendale, Ariz., on Sunday, April 23, 2023, after a battle with cancer.
Gary was born in Independence, Mo. on January 5, 1948, son of James Albert and Dorothy Jean (Adams) Marsh. A graduate of William Chrisman High School (Class of 1966), he went on to attend Central Missouri State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree, with emphasis in Interior Design, in 1970.
Gary served as the principal at his design firm, Marsh-LeFevbre & Associates, from 1980 until 2002. The same year, he purchased the Sermon-Anderson building and served as President and CEO of the company until 2008.
Gary settled in the Historic Northeast community, restoring an early 1900’s stack duplex property in the Pendleton Heights neighborhood. Gary purchased two additional abandoned properties on his block with the goal of restoring them to their former glory. Gary completed a number of design projects in the Northeast including complete restoration and interior re-design of the six-plex located at 301 Bellefontaine Avenue in the Scarritt Renaissance neighborhood.
The community called and Gary answered, serving as the President of the Pendleton Heights Neighborhood Association for many years in the middle and late 1990’s. Through Gary’s leadership the neighborhood association grew in prominence, not just in Northeast but on a city-wide basis, often hosting Historic Homes Tours where over 1,000 people were treated to a glimpse of life in the late 1800’s in the Pendleton Heights neighborhood.
Gary was also a staunch supporter of the Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall and served in an influential position on the Kansas City Museum’s strategic planning committee during an extremely critical time in the Museum’s history. His work on that committee helped the Museum weather a number of transition storms, ultimately leading to its separation from Union Station and moving under the management of the City’s Parks and Recreation Department in 2014.
He is survived by his sister, Kyle Annette Marsh; one niece, Leah Whitworth; and a great-nephew, Kristian Holland.
He was preceded in death by his father, James A. Marsh, mother, Dorothy Jean (Adams) Marsh, sister, Marla Jean (Marsh) Schneck, and brother-in-law, Steve Schneck.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 5, 2023, at Campbell-Lewis Chapel, 226 S. Odell Ave. in Marshall, MO with William W. Harlow officiating. Visitation was held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the service, interment immediately followed at Mt. Olive Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to VFW Post 2646 in Marshall. Friends may sign the online register book at www.campbell-lewis.com.
Additional local context contributed by Michael Bushnell.
