Gordon Marshall – Sept. 11, 1927 to July 2, 1998
Gordon Marshall was born, raised and schooled in New Westminster. As a youngster he delivered newspapers, assisted on a fishing boat and worked on his grandfather’s farm many summers.
In 1948 his father, Jack Marshall, opened Jack Marshall Motors in New Westminster. Soon, Gordon went to work for his father starting from the ground up with duties that included general clean-up and other work in the shop before moving into sales where he became sales manager. This meant working evening and weekends.
Gordon married his childhood sweetheart, Bev McCuish in 1950. In 1961 Jack Marshall was retiring and at that time Gordon decided to look for a dealership of his own. Gordon was familiar with the Shuswap having holidayed at Sandy Point. He purchased Salmon Arm Motors from A Thomson and Sam Miller. The Marshall family: Gordon, his wife Bev, and their two children, Stuart and Shelley moved to Salmon Arm.
In 1961, when Gordon bought Salmon Arm Motors, the showroom, parts department and service bays were located on the corner of Harris and Alexander Streets. The used car lot and the body shop were across the street where there are now a dentist’s office and storage units. In 1976, the main building was remodeled and a full-page ad in the Nov. 24, 1976 issue of the Salmon Arm Observer invited the public to the opening.
Gordon was a long time Rotarian (37 years) and became president of Salmon Arm Rotary in 1968-69. He was instrumental in introducing the Salmon Arm Fish Fry that continued for 17 years in the community. He also headed the Canadian Power Squadron in Salmon Arm in 1964. He was Commodore of the Salmon Arm Regatta in the late 196o’s. Gordon also served on the board-of-directors of Shuswap Lake General Hospital from 1964 to 1969. Gordon and Bev had a great love for Shuswap Lake. In addition to boating, camping and trailering, they spent many hours of enjoyment fishing and sightseeing on the lake. The couple often took out-of-town visitors for a boat ride on the Shuswap. Gordon’s other love was vintage cars.
For many years after Gordon’s retirement, he and Bev would head south to California in the winter months where they got to meet some great friends and visited those friends in their home states. Often, these people would come to Salmon Arm in the summer and Gordon would be pleased to tell them about Salmon Arm and show them around Shuswap Lake.
Gordon and Bev also had time in their retirement to visit places like England, Brazil, Turkey and Alaska. Gordon and Bev have always been very proud to be a part of such a great community as Salmon Arm.
Beverly Marshall – Dec. 20, 1928 to March 7, 2013
Bev passed away peacefully March 7 at Bastion Place in Salmon Arm at the age of 84 years.
Bev was born in Vancouver, B.C. on December 20, 1928. Bev moved to Salmon Arm in 1961 when her husband Gordon purchased the GM Dealership in town. She enjoyed her time volunteering with the Shuswap Lake Hospital Ladies Auxiliary and the Salmon Arm Art Gallery. Bev and Gordon spent many hours enjoying their boat on the Shuswap Lake and spending winters down in California.
Bev had the ability to see the humor in every situation, cracking jokes until the end.
Bev was predeceased by her husband Gordon in 1998 and her sister Joyce in March 2013 (2 days before her own passing). Survived by son and daughter-in-law, Stuart and Theresa. Daughter, Shelley. Grandchildren, Lauren and Derek Marshall.
