Norman William "Skip" Marshall

Obituary Notice

Norman William "Skip" Marshall, 70, inventor, innovator, communicator, developer, advisor, and consultant, of Little Rock, died Tuesday, November 13, 2002. He was born in Tacoma, Washington. In his youth, he was a violin prodigy and virtuoso. He was a graduate from Stadium High School in Tacoma before receiving his BA degree and later receiving his MBA from Washington State University. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea in the Security Division, specializing in Russian communication interception. While in Korea he served with great valor under fire. After the service be was employed with the Weyerhaeuser Corporation, managing the Wood and Products Division for 18 years. While at Weyerhaeuser Skip invented and holds the patent for Pres-To-Log, a wood bi-product compressed into a fire starting log and developed numerous other innovative uses for wood byproducts. He was Weyerhaeuser Corporation's representative to the National Alliance of Businesses. He left Weyerhaeuser in 1973 to start his own business, Pro-Mart, a lumber yard in Tacoma. He also taught small business management at the University of Puget Sound where he later served as Associate Dean of Vocational Education. He was the author of four business related books and a very active business consultant. As Deacon and ordained Lay Minister at St. Patrick's Catholic Parish in Tacoma, Skip worked very closely with the area prison outreach program. Once out of the lumber business, he became security manager for Wackenhut Security Services in Washington and Maine. Later in Maine he was assistant manager of the Lawnmeer Inn in Boothbay Harbor. Skip also tested and evaluated business tax software for Arthur Anderson Corporation. In 1995 he moved to Little Rock, assuming the position of Associate Monitor with the federal Office of Desegregation Monitoring until 2000. He then worked with the Arkansas School Boards Association, serving as Researcher and Legislative Liaison. Skip was known and admired for his sense of humor, positive energy and creative talent, and enduring love of family, friends, and the Lord he served.

Skip is survived by his wife, Ann Stevenson Marshall of Little Rock; his son Kevin William Marshall and wife Cindy of Belfair, Washington; daughter Karen Ann Marshall of Seattle; Jane Stevenson Brown of Walnut, California; Elizabeth Calvert Wahl and husband Matthew of Little Rock; Jonathan M. and Andrew J. Brown of Little Rock; one sister, Teddy Louise Lazares and husband John of Olalla, Washington, and 5 grandchildren.

Funeral services are today, Saturday, at 11 A.M. at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral officiated by The Very Reverend Henry Hudson. Burial will follow at Marcus Hill Cemetery north of Enola, Arkansas. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to any charity benefiting children.