Marsha Ward

Time to step it up!  All Marsha wanted was to bring a little bling to your life.  All those reading this know what I mean.  She taught all of us to be strong and independent and look for beauty in this world through art.  She is now painting that masterpiece and shopping the golden streets of Heaven with her daughter Theresa.  Her other best friend, God, better watch out because he will have his hands full.  Things are about to get done.

This is one thing I do know is that Marsha was the thing that Odessa needed, a little style.  Hard men and women make a life here.  Her father, Pete, a man is looking for an opportunity in the oil field during America’s hardest times, and her mother, Mary, a New York English teacher who always shared her knowledge and sought to educate others through her books.

It all changed on April 26, 1945, when Marsha was born in Brownfield, TX.  The oldest of three girls.  Barb, the youngest sister, still lives the life we all want in retirement in Kingsland, TX.  Barb taught many of us how to swim and live the good life at the lake.  That place always brings a smile to your face.  Sherry, the last of the trio, influenced her sisters through style and fashion design.  Let’s get back to Odessa, the boom or bust oil town we all love.  It is that high school Permian which taught many to be the best.  Marsha attended Permian High School.  It’s where she started making most of us look our best with a pair of scissors and a straight razor.  Odessa is where she began her family.  Sammie, the oldest and the prodigal one, always seem to find his way back.  He learned to help others because of his mother’s kindness but missed the pizzazz.  He found that again in his love, Rebeca.  Like Marsha, she is a standout in a jet setter.  It must run in the family because Theresa, her daughter and best friend, was an artist in her own right.  Theresa made friends with anyone and everyone.  It must be a Marsha talent.  All this chemistry exploded when the grandson Caleb comes along.  He was the first to remind everyone he knew how to use his imagination.  Through his music, casting, tv, and cooking he is making his mark.  I don’t know what it is about Marsha’s boys, but they love the energy and attention.  Caleb’s wife, Amye, has it just like his mom, Theresa.  The clan better watch out for the great grandkids, Callie and Colson.  Callie is in the house while Colson is going to set the bar.

The one thing about Odessa is that those here before the boom will always be here and Marsha would retire when she no longer had clients.  The good news for us is that she is never going to have to retire.  Odessa will miss her especially those waiters who had her menu memorized and those at Redeemer who loved her singing.

One can see what an influence Marsha was through her talents and gifts to her family.  She will continue to make a difference in the world.  You too, can make a difference.  In Marsha’s remembrance, please donate to Susan G. Komen foundation at  http://www.komen.org/ (see link below) for breast cancer awareness or Redeemer Lutheran Church where she was at one with God.