Ruth Marshall

     Ruth (Meade) Marshall, 86 years old, passed to heaven from Memorial Healthcare Center at 5:08 p.m. Monday, September 21, 2026. With her were her husband of 64 years Keith, daughter Angela, and son Bob. On Sunday, September 20, 2026, her other sons: Scott and John, and John ‘wife Jackie, as well as many of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren filled her room with giggles and hugs.
     Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes-Houghton Chapel, Ovid, MI, on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 2:00 P.M. Burial will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery, Owosso, MI. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 1:00 P.M. until the time of the service at the funeral home.
     Ruth was raised in Muskegon, Michigan, with her sister Mary. From 1959 through 1961, she was a specialist fourth class in the U.S. Army stationed at Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio Texas. There she met specialist fourth class Keith Marshall with the ninth field hospital and the rest is history.
     Ruth and Keith lived for 52 years on a mini farm near Ovid, Michigan. Always lovers of animals, they raised a wide variety of pets. She will be greatly missed by her current cat Misty and dog Shoe.
     Mostly a homemaker, Ruth did at times work various jobs. She worked at Toledo Commutator creating electrical components. She later was a popcorn lady at the Capital Movie Theater in Owosso, working her way up to Assistant Manager before the theater closed by. After that, she watched folks’ kids in her home until her crafting activities began to fill her days.
      Her husband Keith began selling sweet corn at the downtown farmer’s market in 1973. Soon Ruth joined Keith as flea market vendors, which they continued for decades until failing health stopped them in 2024.
     Over the years, both developed crafting skills and they attended many craft shows. Some of you will have something made by Ruth: a doll, a hanging towel, plastic bag holder, a variety of stoneware figurines, pins or magnets or even an old rusty gas can with a John Deere tractor painted in it.
     Ruth’s bright smile may be dimmed, but many of you will think of her because she has made you smile with some decorative piece in your home and life.
     She is survived by her husband Keith Marshall of Corunna, MI; her children: Scott and Cathryn Marshall of Spring Lake, MI; John and Jacquelyn Marshall of Eagle, MI; Bob and Rebecca Marshall of Owosso, MI; and Angela Marshall of Lynbrook, NY; her six grandchildren: Brandon, Joshua, Chris, Hope, Aubreigh, and Hannah; and several great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Mary Rosenstengel, many nieces and nephews, her cat Misty, and her dog Shoe.
     Memorials may be made to Ovid Public Library or American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Houghton Chapel, Ovid, Michigan.