Philip John “Pj” Marshall December 27, 1920-July 26, 2015

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Philip John “Pj” Marshall December 27, 1920-July 26, 2015

Papa was born in a tent on the Sandy river 2 days after Christmas in 1920 to Eveylin Charlotte Bates and Fred Albert Marshall. He was premature and very small so the doctor put him in the oven and told them not to expect the baby to live. He was so sure that he didn’t bother to fill out a birth certificate. In 1942, when Philip wanted to join the Army, he needed a birth certificate so he had to go the doctor and get a “delayed” birth certificate! Phil intended to be a truck driver in the service, however, the guy assigning jobs had too many truck drivers. He noticed that Philip had taken drafting in high school so he
sent him to the Cartography division for training. He served with the 941st Engineering Aviation Topographic Division in Northern Africa and Italy. While in Italy, Mount Vesuvius erupted and the guys when

to see it and he melted the soles of his shoes on hot lava!

He excelled in the cartography field and continued map making in civilian life. Retiring from the Bureau of Land Management in 1983 after 40 years of Federal service. The BLM is why he ended up in Boise, Idaho, transferring here in 1954. After retirement, Mom and Dad spent many weekends camping with the BLM retirees group.

Papa graduated from Estacada Union High School in Estacada, Oregon in 1941 and married his high school sweetheart, Bethel Louise Hagerman, on November 22, 1942 while he was home on the 3-day pass from Fort Lewis, Washington. They were married 66 years when Bethel passed in 2009. They had three children, Bill (and Sharie), Joanna, and Craig before moving to Idaho. They in turn gave him 4 grandchildren; Patrick (and Kathy) Marshall, Erika (and Jim) Brandt, Michele Marshall, and Erin Hansen. And then a great-granddaughter, Lyric Finney. He also had 4 nieces: Bobbie (and Michael) Arthur; Carla (and John) Emerling; Vickie (deceased); and Rosina (and Don) Sturm.

Mom got him involved in Boise Little Theater and the First Methodist Church Meri-Weds group. They both gave up their involvement in the theater as it became more difficult for them to do, but Philip continued to attended the monthly Meri-Weds dinners up to April of 2015 when he just did not have the stamina to go any more.

His grandfather taught him to play cribbage when he was a young boy, and we played until he reached the point where he just could not concentrate on the game. He loved taking pictures and developed his film in his own darkroom until it became so easy to get film developed at the stores. He also loved fishing. Just before retirement he started rock hounding and spent many hours making cabochons which he placed in bolo ties, belt buckles, and pendants.

Papa had COPD and Congestive Heart Failure for many years but finally lost the battle on July 26, 2015. A memorial service will be at Alden-Waggoner at 1:00 on Tuesday, August 4, 2015.

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