Marlene June Russell Formby June 11, 1935 - June 14, 2006
"Idleness has no place in her life" described Marlene in her HHS days as
well as her later life! She was active in English IV Club, Library Club, 4-H,
FHA, and Quill and Scroll. In addition she served on the Hi-Lights staff and
sang in the HHS Glee Club. She was on the program at the Junior-Senior
prom and was in the GAA.
Marlene June (Marla) Russell Formby, 71, passed away on Wednesday,
June 14, 2006, in Austin, Texas, of complications resulting from chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. She was born on June 11, 1935, in Hope,
Arkansas, to C.B. and Wanda Nichols Russell. Marla graduated from Hope
High School in 1953 and attended Southern State University. She married
Billy Warren Formby in 1956 and, while Bill was stationed with the U.S.
Army in Heidelberg, Germany, a very pregnant Marla sold his prized 1956
Chevrolet and moved to Germany to have their first child, Suzanne. She
followed Bill throughout Texas as he worked for the Atlantic Richfield Oil
Company.
Their other daughter Stacey and son Steve were born while the family lived
in Andrews, Texas. Marla moved with her family to Longview in 1967
where she earned her real estate agent's license and worked for Action
Realty and Coy Allen Real Estate Companies. In 1993, Marla moved to
Austin, where she resided until her death.
Until a few years ago, she was active in the Senior Citizens Center and was
an avid bridge player, an accomplished pianist, and poet. Marla was
preceded in death by her beloved parents. She will be sadly missed by her
loving children and their families, daughter, Suzanne Marshall and husband,
Mark and children, Christopher and Andrew of Austin; Stacey Taggart and
husband, Steve and children, Zoe and Lily of Dallas; and son, Steve
Formby of San Marcos; sister, Marjorie Butler and husband, Billy Joe of
Hope; brother, Carter Russell and wife, Billie of Hope; numerous nieces,
nephews, other relatives, and a host of friends. The family would like to
extend a heartfelt thanks to Englewood Retirement Center and the Regency
Village Care Center of Austin for their kindness and loving care during the
past few years.
The family received friends Sunday, June 18, 2006, at Herndon Funeral
Home before the service with funeral services following at 2:00 p.m. in
the Chapel. Interment was at Evening Shade Cemetery. For those desiring,
contributions may be made in Marla's memory to the American Lung
Association or to a charity of choice.
You are invited to go to www.mem.com to share your thoughts and fond
memories of Marla with her family.
Published in the Austin American-Statesman on 6/16/2006.
Memories of Marla
from Wanda Sinclair
Marla and I were friends for 60 years--something like that--since fifth
grade. We went from Brookwood to Olgesby then to junior high, back and
forth through the years. She was always my pal. We had so much fun
together with Mattie Faye, Frances, Linda, Nora Lee, Katie, Evelyn and
Iris Nell in high school. Someone had a car at night and we would all pile
in and "go look for boys" or to "T" town on Saturdays SHOPPING.
Marla loved shopping...she always bought the most expensive things and
she always looked nice. She had this wicked sense of humor and I can
hear her laughing now...to her (then) everything was funny.
She and Ava (her sister-in-law) once decided to ride the bicycles
borrowed from some boys in the neighborhood, and rode to Springhill
thinking it would be "no big deal." By the time they dragged themselves
into Springhill, they were too pooped to ride back to Hope. They had to
catch a ride back with a fella and threw the bicycles in the back of his
truck.
Through the years we kept up with each other and, when she would come
home from time to time, we would get together .She lived in Texas, was
very proud of her family and was happy.
Several years ago she became ill, and we never got the "old Marla" back.
I miss her so terribly much... I miss her laughter and hearing her voice.
We kept up with our e-mails until the very end...two weeks before she
died she sent a cute joke. I still have it. I know she loved us and we
loved her. That is what it is all about!
Wanda Sinclair McCorkle
July 25, 2006
Final Farewell
Today the sun dares not raise its head
The news has spread; a hero lies dead.
The time has come; the tolling bell
Tells "All is done; now say farewell."
No bitter tears will I bring
To you, who taught my heart to sing.
I bring a tribute of love, not grief,
A bouquet of roses; no funeral wreath.
I mourn for those, who breathing, never live
Nor know the eternal joy that love can give;
I cry for those who think life means
Compromise of ideals and shattered dreams.
I do not heed that ancient pagan rite
Which decrees the mournful wearing of black.
For you, who knew honor in victory won,
Life's great gifts are not by Death undone.
--------------------
The poem was written by our own Marlene "Marla" Russell Formby
and entered into the Writers' Roundup, a contest for poets.
Today the sun dares not raise its head
The news has spread; a hero lies dead.
The time has come; the tolling bell
Tells "All is done; now say farewell."
No bitter tears will I bring
To you, who taught my heart to sing.
I bring a tribute of love, not grief,
A bouquet of roses; no funeral wreath.
I mourn for those, who breathing, never live
Nor know the eternal joy that love can give;
I cry for those who think life means
Compromise of ideals and shattered dreams.
I do not heed that ancient pagan rite
Which decrees the mournful wearing of black.
For you, who knew honor in victory won,
Life's great gifts are not by Death undone.
--------------------
The poem was written by our own Marlene "Marla" Russell Formby
and entered into the Writers' Roundup, a contest for poets.