Kendrick Leon Marshall

Kendrick Leon Marshall was born in Shawnee Mission, Kansas on November 7, 1970.
He joined his family of sister Katrina Lynn and parents Gloria J. and Daniel W. Marshall. A year and a half later his family left the Overland Park area to move to Grandpa’s farm near Chadron, Nebraska. It was there he fell in love with his dad’s big Oliver tractor, found lifetime memories of the long rope swing that hung from a great big cottonwood tree by Big Bordeaux Creek, and discovered God had given him a delightful voice with which to sing.
In October of 1973, at not quite age three, he stood on the seat beside his dad as they were driving to Guatemala and quipped in his surprisingly low voice, “Some people drive old pickups, but we drive new pickups!”
He flew back to the states with his family a month later having contracted a severe case of scarlet fever. Amazingly, he lived!
A year later in 1974, he moved with the family to Imperial where he learned to ride his red, white and blue Schwinn bicycle and start all his years at Imperial Grade School and Chase County High. He moved with the family in 1978 to the new home south of Enders. It was there Kendrick spent endless hours riding his three wheeler, loving the banks and hills of the south side of Enders Reservoir. Often with game warden in pursuit, Kendrick naturally avoided correction at every turn.
Any time he came back, he found time to just wander and soak in the tranquility of the trees and hills of home.
Upon graduation from high school in 1989, he first attended Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma City. Later, he attended John Brown University in Bentonville, AK and then graduated from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE. It was at John Brown that Giles Armstrong (the ministering pastor at the memorial service) and Kendrick, as roommates, became kindred spirits! Throughout his life, Kendrick collected life-long friends. He cared deeply for others and wanted their best.
Of the many places of employment Kendrick held, his time teaching high school students in Grant was a significant highpoint - and a mutually delightful experience. This life-changing role sparked his driving purpose to walk shoulder to-shoulder with others. He wanted people to thrive in life, to be elevated to live out their unique and authentic design. Wherever he went, he took time to listen, to care, and to respond with personal depth.
Kendrick was a leader. People were drawn to him. He was full of ideas. He loved flavor. Life for Kendrick needed spice. He was often slow of speech! His multitude of ideas and insight needed a patient, insightful listener. He was found to be a brilliant thinker and strategist if someone would just listen! And if you didn’t, he would tell you, “Shut your pie hole!”
In Kendrick’s life, hope had arrived. He loved his trucking. He loved the rigs on the road. He was planning heavily for the future. Life was brightest!
On June 4, 2026, Kendrick died of a heart attack near Tolar, Texas while singing in the shower.
Kendrick leaves behind his special friend Marta and her little boy Zane, his sister Katrina and his parents Gloria and Daniel, along with a multitude of relatives and friends.