I was blessed beyond belief to be married to this vibrant woman who lit up my life for ten wonderful years.  Those ten years from 2001 to 2011 were a magical time filled with adventure, new experiences, horses, travel and the simple beauty of being with each other.  My memories of her will live forever and I will cry every day of my life till I’m with her again. 

I have a story about Marsha-a short story-just a blip on the radar screen of Masha's impact on the lives of all she knew, but such a testimonial to what a truly tremendous and special human being she was...
 My first years up here in the valley I worked the first shift watching the mares at Tommy Town during foaling season.  Those were long, cold and lonely nights.  Even though Marsha and John had busy lives elsewhere they often came to visit their farm up here and Marsha would just pop in with a thermos of hot chocolate and offer me a bit of company for a while, or bring me flowers cut from from her rose bushes, or simply bring me a hug and her huge smile.  Small gifts that spoke little of her concrete wealth but bespoke volumes of her grand spiritual riches. These were random acts of kindness that meant the world to me and brightened those dark nights immeasurably.   On nights a mare would foal she would stay and watch with childish glee even though she had witnessed this miraculous event many times.  She loved everything about it from pulling the baby out to helping it stand and nurse and mucking the stall out afterwards.  I remember her dragging the heavy afterbirth out of the stall with her enormous pleased smile lighting up the entire barn.  She wouldn't go home until the stall was gleaming like a hospital room-pitching straw and carting the laden wheel barrow outside.   I have many memories of Marsha, but this moment stands out and I know she is looking down at us now and she is smiling and laughing even as she wipes away a tear at our deep mourning of her passing.  That was Marsha-so filled with joy, warmth and caring and yet utterly aware of the tragic and transitory nature of life.   I was so blessed to have shared these special moments with her and I know she impacted so many others in  both simple and grand ways.  She will be remembered each day by all of us with equal parts of joy and sadness. Marsha was so special and to know her was to love her and if we could all be more like her the world would be a better place.

We love you and miss you Marsha....

I've been reading the tributes to Marsha.  The commonality of these tributes is amazing.  They all tell a story of a woman who loved people.  She had an uncanny ability to make eveyone whose life she touched feel important in a very special and unique way.  At our 30 year high school reunion, she came up to me, called me by name an told me how glad she was to see me.  She remembered me!  This was the first time she had seen me in 30 years and she rememberd who I was!!  I think most people that knew Marsha can understand how important that made me feel.  She was genuine.  She was the real deal!  That dynamite, million dollar smile gave proof of how real our Marsha was.  This is her legacy: that each of us take her love to heart and share it with others.  Her love of people can live through us as a gift to others.  I thank God for the privilege of having known Marsha and I look forward to the day when we will get to see that awsome smile once again!!!