Marion Mc Intyre was a woman cut of the warmest, kindest cloth who volunteered her time, her effort and her love. She was so many things to so many people - a loving wife, mother and grandmother, a friend and mentor, but more than anything, Marion was a wonderful example of the good in people.

With the end of World War I, the year 1919 marked a time of change in American history, as soldiers returned home to start their families amidst a booming post-era economy. In Freeport, Illinois, Benjamin Shaw and his wife, Rae (Roberts), were among the many expecting parents, and on December 16, 1919, they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Marion Beth. Marion and her brother, Robert, grew up in a loving, yet strict home.

It was evident from a young age that Marion was a very bright girl. Her mother was an elementary school teacher and education was a top priority. Marion excelled in her studies and graduated from high school at the age of 16. In addition, she was the valedictorian of her 8th grade class and was elected to the Senior Honor Society in high school. Marion went on to graduate from Morton Junior College, where she was elected to the Alpha Pi Epsilon - Honorary Business Fraternity. Some time later, she took the Great Books Course at the University of Chicago, a passion that followed her throughout her life. Over the years she attended night school at various universities and took extension classes.

It was in high school that Marion met her future husband, James (Jim or Mac) William Mc Intyre. They socialized with the same group of friends, which ultimately led to their meeting. After graduation from junior college, Jim went to live with some of his friends who were attending Denison University in Granville, Ohio. Although Jim couldn’t really afford to attend college, his buddies made room for him at their fraternity house, the Sigma Chi Fraternity house, and in subsequent years two generations of the Mc Intyre family would become members of this fraternity. After college, Jim was drafted into the military and while he was away, Marion went back to school. In addition to school, Marion worked for an insurance company in Chicago for a brief time before taking a job with the Clayton Knight Committee. This was a British company that offered additional training to American Air Force Trainees and in exchange they would fl y for the after graduating. When the United States entered World War II, this program ceased and so did Marion’s job. After this, she went to work for the General Amusement Corporation in Chicago, which was an entertainment booking company for big name bands such as Nat King Cole, The Andrew Sisters, Jimmy Dorsey and Glen Miller. When Marion’s boss left the company to start Mercury Records, Marion went with him and became an executive secretary.

In June of 1946, Marion and Jim were fi nally married. During their fi rst year of marriage, Jim, fresh out of the military, picked up a broken teaching contract in December, which led the couple to the small town of Plainfi eld, Illinois. After one year, they packed up and headed for Niles, Michigan, where Marion took a job with the Niles Public Schools as the Elementary School Supervisor. During this time Jim earned his master’s degree at the University of Michigan and summer weekends consisted of train trips between Ann Arbor and Niles. Their stay was not long-lived, for they were soon on their way to Lafayette, Indiana where Jim was hired as an Instructor at Purdue University and continued work on his Ph.D. After settling in the “barracks” there, Marion went to work for the Head of the Department of Education at Purdue University (Department of Women’s Physical Education). It was also in Lafayette that Marion and Jim started their family, which would eventually include three children: James, Robert and Kathleen. In 1952 Jim accepted a job as an Assistant Professor at Case Institute of Technology in , Ohio. It was there that Robert was born. In 1959, Jim accepted a job at Western Michigan University and the family moved to Kalamazoo. Kathleen was born soon thereafter. In Kalamazoo, Marion became involved with the Welcome Wagon and did some market opinion interviewing for a research company. After Marion lost her beloved husband in 1979, she re-focused and worked part-time at a Hallmark Store. She also traveled extensively to places like Hong Kong, Israel, , Central America, Europe and Eastern Europe.

Marion was a loving and devoted wife and mother, who derived great joy from watching her family grow and succeed. Her greatest passion was to support her family in their every endeavor such as Cub Scouts and the Saint Luke’s Choirmothers Guild. She and Jim instilled in their children an appreciation for cultural activities, and the importance of being involved in social issues of the day. Even as her children were growing up, Marion was actively involved in the Kalamazoo Public Schools. She served as a Mother Study Chairman at the Indian Prairie School and also served on committees at all three schools, which included the Education Committee for the PTA Council. In addition, Marion was a four-year member of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee for the Desegregation of the Schools. (Pete Wallus served as Chairman). When it came time to build the high school on Drake Road, Marion and two other individuals developed a survey that was published in the Kalamazoo Gazette in hopes of getting the public’s opinion on what this new school should include. The fi ndings were then presented to the Board of Education.

One constant in Marion’s life was her faith. In her younger years, Marion taught Sunday school and was the leader of her high school Youth Group, of which her brother was also a member. After moving to Kalamazoo, she became a member of the Westwood United Methodist Church and remained active there for over 40 years. During this time, Marion served on several committees, including the Education Committee, the Worship Committee and the Nominating Committee, as well as being involved with the Prayer Chain, Home Communion Team and Hospital Visitation Group. Marion even took a “Listening” class at Borgess Hospital so she could better serve this group. Through the years, she also taught several adult Sunday school classes, or as she put it “acted as Discussion Leader”, have taken the Emmies Walk, the Alpha course and the “for disciple studies.” Marion also found time to volunteer in the community with the Red Cross Blood Mobile and at the Hospital Hospitality House. She was also an active member of the WMU Dames.

Always a social person, Marion took a great deal of enjoyment from her bridge groups. It was in this way Marion spent time with a wide circle of friends. Many of these same friends were part of a dinner/lunch group that managed to dine at most if not every restaurant in the Kalamazoo area.

What gave Marion the greatest joy was sharing herself with her family, friends and church community. She offered them the most precious things she possessed - her time and her genuine interest in their activities and their life. It is a gift none of her family or friends will ever forget.

Marion Beth Mc Intyre of Kalamazoo passed away peacefully with her family at her side on July 1, 2006, at Borgess Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her brother, Robert Shaw; and sister-in-law, Helen Shaw. Surviving are her three children: James (Joanna) Mc Intyre of Kalamazoo, Robert (Anne) Mc Intyre of Ada, MI, and Kathleen Mc Intyre of Kalamazoo; fi ve grandsons: James, David, Andrew, Phillip and John; four nieces: Jane (Martin) VanDenack of Hastings, Marti (David) Jernberg, Susan Mc Intyre and Cate (Michael) Murschel all of Elgin, IL; and several grand nieces and grand nephews.

Cremation has taken place. A memorial service to honor her life will be held on Friday, July 21, 2006 at 4:00 p.m. at the Westwood United Methodist Church with Pastor Eric Beck offi ciating. A time of fellowship and light refreshments will follow at the Church. In lieu of fl owers, memorial contributions may be made to the Love Fund at Westwood United Methodist Church or Loaves and Fishes. Arrangements by Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo, 6080 Stadium Drive, (269) 375-2900.