2022ObituariesBetty Joyce McGowan Marsh

May 1, 1931 ~ February 17, 2022

Betty Joyce McGowan Marsh passed from this life into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ at 3:30 am on February 17, 2022 at her home in Walker, Louisiana, surrounded by her husband and loved ones. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Walker E. Marsh, Sr, her four children, Dr. Walker E. Marsh, Jr (wife, Joan Marsh) of Slidell, LA; Vera LeAnna Marsh Harris of Walker, LA;  Julius McGowan “Mac”  Marsh  (wife, Jane Marsh) of Madison, MS, and Cliff Gordon Marsh  (wife, Anna Marsh) of Walker, LA  as well as  Grandchildren:  Angela Harris Lockhart,  Lori Harris Koonce, Kayla D. Harris, Cade Walker Marsh, Ivie Marsh Scott, Riley, Peyton, and Jaylen Powell, Matthew Marsh, Andrew Marsh, Kristi Marsh, Jarrod Marsh, Brendan Marsh, and Erin Marsh and  Great-grandchildren: Austin James Beck, Bronson Grant Beck, Demi Marie Lockhart, Beau Walker Lockhart, Cameron Seth Harris, Savannah Paige Koonce, Clover James Scott, Shepard Walker Scott, Set Lawson Marsh, and Madelyn Jane Marsh. She was preceded in death by her father, Julius Clinard McGowan, her mother Lucy Vera Minton McGowan, and her three sisters, Marjorie Hopkins St. Amant, Catherine Lynne Wells, both of Walker, LA and Mary Esther Varnado, Denham Springs, LA.

“Mawmaw Betty” was a native of Walker, LA and lived there for all of her 90 years except for a few months just after her marriage in 1953. She graduated from Walker High School and was active in the reunions of her class. She was also an active member of Walker Baptist Church and poured her life into developing the faith of the children of the church. Betty loved children, both her own and others, and wanted more than anything else to see them come to faith in Christ. She was a firm believer in the words of Christ to “bring the children to me” (Mt. 19:14 KJV). She worked for over 40 years promoting children’s programs by teaching missions through the Girls in Action classes and her activities in Vacation Bible School and Sunday School. She also taught for many years as a Teacher’s Paraprofessional at Walker Elementary and touched many lives with her faithful witness.

Betty’s love for her family was second only to her love of Jesus. She read the Bible, believed the Bible, lived the Bible, witnessed to others, and was a great prayer warrior. Her greatest desire was for her relatives, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to know Christ, love Him, commit their lives to Him, and live for Him. In her prayer life, she prayed for her friends and family daily and looked forward to the day that we would all be together in Heaven.

Betty’s favorite things all revolved around her family and her faith. On holidays, she wanted to see her family. On days in between, she also wanted to see her family. Her introduction to Smartphones, Facetime, WhatsApp and email were some of the best things that ever happened for her as she was able to see pictures of loved ones, talk to them, post messages, etc. – and she did regularly. She was a “shutterbug” and everyone understood that if they visited “Mawmaw Bet”, they were getting their pictures taken- it just was a fact of life. Consequently, her home was filled with pictures of her loved ones over four generations.

Betty is greatly missed by her family, but there is also an underlying joy in knowing that she is no longer suffering with illness and is in the presence of all those she loved best. The sparkle in her eyes when she sees her mother and father and sisters and the face of her Lord will be something to behold. Betty was a wonderful, loving mother and a faithful and loving wife to her husband. All will miss her greatly, but are joyful that she will be hearing those words, “Well done thou good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord”. (Mt 25:23 KJV).

Arrangements

A Wake will be held on Friday evening 2/25/2022 from 5pm to 8pm at Seale Funeral Home, 1720 South Range Avenue, Denham Springs, LA 70726.

Visitation will be conducted on Saturday, 2/26/2022 from 10am until noon at Walker Baptist Church, 10696 Florida Blvd, Walker, LA 70785. It will be followed by the Funeral Service at noon with internment in the Minton Cemetery on South Walker Road.