Robert "Mack" Marsh, Jr of Warrior, Alabama, age 70, passed away on January 19, 2024.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert "Bob" Marsh, Sr and Bobbie Nell Marsh; and his wife Merle Kilgore Marsh.

He is survived by his children, daughter Elizabeth Marsh Bolen (Eddie) and grandchildren Anna, Isabell, Eva, Lillian, and Sgt Thomas Bolen; son Robbie Marsh (Amber), grandchildren Maddie, Peyton, and Morgan Marsh; his beloved son Albert Marsh; daughter Annie Marsh Albarado (Glenn), grandchildren Emily and Jonah Dasis, Annie Ruth, River, and Ruby Albarado, and Kate Cagle (Jadyn) and great-grandchild Kainen Cagle; former son-in-law Joey Dasis; and his dear dog Delmar.

Mack grew up in Warrior, Alabama and graduated from Warrior High School.  Just two months after their first date, he proposed to his sweetheart Merle Kilgore.  He gained a host of sisters and brothers, as Merle's family welcomed him in just like he had always been there. Mack and Merle were married for 47 years before she passed away.  They had four children, fourteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild who all brought him much joy.  Mack was a life-long United Methodist, and believed in God's grace and mercy which is offered to us all.

Mack grew up in his family's business, Farmer's Gin & Tractor Co.  He sold his first tractor when he was 8 years old, too young to write up the bill of sale.  He worked alongside his father Bob Marsh, and later on his wife Merle.  He was consistently the top tractor & mower salesperson in the Southeast.  His work was his livelihood.  He was his best when he was there, and he cherished his customers, many of whom would become his life-long friends.  He was an easy character to remember – short, loud, fast, with a headful of curly hair, and a Southern accent thicker than syrup.  After the Gin closed, he went on to other dealerships selling tractors or cars.  He only retired when his health began to decline.

He loved this earth that God gave us. He was nearly obsessed with working in the yard.  He felt at peace with his hands in the earth and could barely wait until he got the next plant or fruit tree.  One of the things that brought him immense joy was when it came a soaking rain through the sunshine.  He also found solace in the Smoky Mountains, as his parents took him there as a child. His wife Merle always loved Guntersville Lake from her fond memories there with her family, so he loved it there too.  He talked warmly of going hunting with his father, saying that the closest he felt to God was standing deep in the woods, looking up into the trees.

The last year of his life Mack was on palliative care for heart failure and kidney failure.  His wife Merle adoringly cared for his every need and want until she passed after a very short illness in May 2023. His son Albert then seamlessly took on the role of his primary care provider, not only tending to his physical needs but always striving to bring him happiness, even in the shadow of grief. His children will remember the good memories of him driving to Mama Kilgore's for dinner with the windows rolled down, listening to classic rock & doing his famous hand dancing; Sunday afternoons car shopping; his peculiar love of mustards and sauces; embarrassingly short shorts with loafers and no socks; and his contagious child-like excitement of running with us into the living room on Christmas morning to see what Santa Claus had brought.

Mack will be missed dearly.  He fought his sickness valiantly, even to the last days.  He was not one to rest because for him there was always more work to be done.  His family finds solace that he is now at rest in heaven, in the arms of Merle.

The family will honor Robert with a memorial service at GracePoint United Methodist at Mt. Olive on Saturday, January 27, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Visitation will begin an hour prior to the memorial service.