Gary ‘Goli’ Francis Marshall
Passed on: March 14th, 2013
Mesko’ltiek amujpa ekinua’tulek naqluksiek wijikmki~i~ttaq Goli-o’q.
It is with great sadness that we, the family, announce the loss of our beloved brother and step-grandfather ‘Papa’, who passed away peacefully at home on March 14, 2013.
He is survived by six brothers and four sisters. Russell (Carol), ‘Stevo’ (Jackie), Alex (Margie), Nora (Peter), Rosemary, Clifford, Bernadette, Lindsay (Mary Louise), Maynard (Jean) and Sharon (Lester) and by two special step-grandsons, Rod and John Michael Johnson. He is also survived by four stepchildren, Raymond (Diane) Levesque, Ellery Levesque, Stevie (Sheri) Levesque and Lori (Roddie) Johnson; 11 step-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild. Gary was also blessed with having four godchildren, Elizabeth, Lynn Margaret, Ty Joe and Richard. He was predeceased by his loving wife Margaret Marshall and baby Maureen Nicholas, paternal grandparents; Alexander and Rose (Googoo) Marshall and maternal grandparents Stephen and Mary (Basque) Battiste, beloved parents; Thomas and Pauline (Battiste) Marshall and sisters; Norbetta, Elizabeth and his brother James.
He was very well known in the community as a generous and loving friend to everyone. With a mile long smile, he would greet people whom he met and melt their hearts. He loved to cook and entertain his family and friends. He was an avid fisherman and hunter who enjoyed travelling to Maine yearly with his step-grandsons Rod and John Michael whether it was for leisure or to pick blueberries. He was a former employee of the Potlotek Band Council and one of his greatest passions was sports. In the 1970s, he was the biggest supporter of the Chapel Island Athletics men’s ball team travelling everywhere from Maine and P.E.I. to watch his favourite team play. In recent years, he was a big supporter of the Potlotek Hunnies which was named after his late wife also known as ‘Hunny’. In addition, he also became a big fan of the Potlotek Red Sox and Richmond Cougars team in which his grandson John Michael played for.
Goli was very proud of his Mi’kmaw ancestry and came from a long lineage of community and religious leaders. Some of his siblings as well his father have been members of the Potlotek Chief and Council and his brother is presently a Captain of the Grand Council. He was the son of the late Grand Captain Thomas Alexander Marshall, the grandson of the late Grand Captain Alexander Marshall, and the great-grandson of the late Grand Captain Thomas Marshall.
Gary was also the grand-nephew of Grand Captain Noel Marshall, the great-great grandson of the last hereditary Grand Chief John Denny and, the great-grandnephew of the late great chief Gabriel Sylliboy who succeeded the late Grand Chief John Denny.
In addition, Goli’s father, Captain Thomas A. Marshall, was the second cousin of the late Grand Chief Donald Marshall who succeeded the late Grand Chief Gabriel Sylliboy.
Lastly, Goli was the great-great-great grandson of the late Putu’s Eli (Alexander MacDonald) and the third cousin of the Putu’skik Simon Marshall and Noel Stephens.
Visitation will be held at the Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Chapel at the Potlotek Community Hall on Monday, March 18, 2013, beginning at 5 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at 11 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church in Barra Head with Rev. Mariadoss Lourdsamy officiating. A meal and Salite’ will follow at the Potlotek Community Hall.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the C.H. Boudreau Funeral Home in Arichat.
To send words of comfort to the family or to light a candle in memory of Gary, please visit www.chboudreau.com.
