Kelly Marshall was a cousin who I always enjoyed hearing from. He generously shared information about our common Perry ancestors and their history. I would have been honored to have him serve as the minister of any church I belonged to. His e-mail was always full of patience, good humor and enthusiasm. I'm not sure if I've transcribed all the information he sent me, but will go back over his messages to see if I missed anything.
Kelly's obituary was published August 8, 2012, in The Kittanning Paper and was provided by cousin Mary Pierotti:
OBIT: Rev. Gordon Kelly Marshall (Kittanning)
The Rev. Gordon Kelly Marshall, 61, died Friday, August 3rd, in Boardman, Ohio, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Kelly was born in Kittanning on February 19, 1951 to Betty Shankle Marshall and the late-Percy Junior Marshall.
He served congregations in Alabama, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio over a 40-year ministry. Throughout his ministry, the Rev. Marshall emphasized the development and revitalization of Christian education programs for all ages. For much of his career, he specialized in guiding congregations in the exploration of innovative models of ministry.
The Rev. Marshall began his career in the United Methodist Church, and in December 2011, celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination in the Episcopal Church. He most recently served in the Diocese of Ohio as the Rector of St. James Episcopal Church in Boardman.
Prior to moving to Ohio, he served as the Missioner to the North Central Regional Ministry in the Diocese of West Virginia. While in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, he served as the first Episcopal chaplain of the interfaith Episcopal-Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University and as Assistant Rector at Calvary Episcopal Church. He also taught as an adjunct in the Classics Department at Duquesne University.
He graduated from Kittanning High School in 1969. He earned a Master of Arts in Psychology from Slippery Rock State University in 1982 and a Master in Theology from Duquesne University in 1985.
He connected many relatives through his extensive genealogical research, which he avidly pursued over the course of four decades.
He loved to travel, and in 2011, made pilgrimages to Canterbury, Santiago de Compostela, and Jerusalem. He enjoyed gardening, photography, and collecting books.
The Rev. Marshall is survived by his mother, Betty Marshall, of Kittanning, PA; daughter, Dr. Jennifer Marshall, of Columbia, SC; a son and daughter-in-law, Adam and Katina Marshall; two grandsons Eli Marshall and Tristan Marshall, of Evanston, Ill.; his sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Russell Hawk, of Kittanning; and his beloved nephews, Jared Hawk, Matthew Hawk, and Joshua Hawk, their wives and children.
He was predeceased by his father, Percy Marshall, of Kittanning.
A requiem Eucharist will be celebrated at 10AM Saturday, September 1, at St. James Episcopal Church in Boardman, Ohio, with the Right Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr., officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in the Rev. Marshall's name to St. James Episcopal Church, 7640 Glenwood Avenue, Boardman, Ohio, 44512.