La Grande, Oregon
John Whitney Marrs, 79, formerly of La Grande, died in Portland April 16. Burial was at the Willamette National Cemetery where he received military honors.
Mr. Marrs was born March 20, 1927, in Port Angeles, Wash. He graduated from La Grande High School, and lettered in football, baseball, track and basketball. He told of a summer job driving a produce truck to and from a POW camp in Eastern Washington.
He served in the Navy during World War II, and attended Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif. In 1948, he transferred to the University of Oregon and changed his major from music to physical education.
He married Jean Hudspeth. The couple moved to Myrtle Point, where he taught junior high school and coached the football team. He worked as a district manager for World Book Encyclopedia for 10 years in Portland, and for the Business Equipment Bureau in Salem and Portland for 28 years. He sold 3M products to schools and churches. He was a member of the Evangel Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife and children, Ron, Tana, Tracie, Lance, Karen and Paul; 14 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and other relatives.
The Observer Online, Obituaries for the week ending July 22, 2006 – Published: July 27, 2006