NORMAN — Marion Beverley Menzies Small Marks, 86, of Norman, was born on Sept. 16, 1926, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to James and Marion Menzies. She died Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, in Norman.
Her memorial service will be 3 p.m. Saturday at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Beverley’s father worked for the Canadian National Railway and when she was six months old, they moved to “the States.” She grew up with her younger sister, Dorothy, in Pittsburgh, Quincy, Mass., and New Haven, Conn. While in Pittsburg, she met Janie Orr Sturman, with whom she maintained a life-long friendship.
In high school, she was a good student and played the clarinet in the school band. She joined the Cadet Nursing Program at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., but transferred to the five-year nursing program at the University of Connecticut. She loved the nursing program, even with the 44-hour work weeks while attending classes. She received most of her nursing training at New Haven Hospital and studied at the Yale Medical School Library, where she met Robert Small, a Yale medical student. She graduated one Saturday in June 1949 with her nursing degree and the next Saturday married Robert.
Beverley worked while Robert completed his degree. According to Robert’s medical internship/residency requirements, they moved to Rochester, N.Y., Charleston, S.C., Camden and Danbury, Conn. Their son, Gordon, was born in Rochester and Bobby and Greg were born in the hospital where Beverley had done most of her student training, New Haven Hospital.
In 1961, the family moved to Muskogee and then to Midwest City. In Midwest City, living close to a golf course, the three boys were consumed by golf, sometimes playing 72 holes in one day. Beverley supported their love and enjoyed taking them to countless junior golf tournaments throughout the region.
In 1975, Beverley moved to Dallas and received her master’s degree in 1977 from Texas Woman’s University College of Nursing in Denton, Texas. She moved back to Midwest City in 1981 and worked for the State of Oklahoma. In 1989, Greg introduced her to Dick Marks, a gentleman who attended Greg’s church in Norman, St. John’s Episcopal Church. After marrying Dick Marks in 1990, she moved to Norman.
Beverley was an active member of the Episcopal Church for her entire life. She volunteered at St. John’s Episcopal Church and cooked for Food for Friends, now called Food and Shelter. With Dick, Beverley loved to travel, garden (roses and dogwood trees), entertain (playing bridge), watch golf tournaments (including going to the Masters’ Golf Tournament annually), read, collect antiques, research her genealogy, follow University of Oklahoma sports and especially talk with her sons.
Beverley was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Dorothy Bostwick; and infant daughter, Catherine Small.
She is survived by husband, Fred M. “Dick” Marks and his family; her sons and their families, Gordon, Gloria, Nathan, Andrew, Luke, Julia and Jason of Tulsa, Bobby, Ellen, Callie and Emily of Midwest City and Greg, Shirley, Houston and Hunter of Oklahoma City; brother-in-law, Dudley P. Bostwick; nieces Susan and Linda Bostwick; and nephew, John Bostwick.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church, 235 W. Duffy St., Norman, OK 73069.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Primrose Funeral Service.
Online condolences may be shared at www.primrosefuneralservice.com.
Norman Transcript, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013
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