Marsha Lanelle McDurmon

Marsha Lanelle McDurmon was born in Monahans, Texas on July 23, 1952, to Nellie & China McDurmon of Imperial, Texas. She died in her home in Odessa, Texas from a seizure on June 25, 2015.
Marsha suffered from birth with cerebral palsy and struggled all her life overcoming every kind of obstacles relating to her motor skills and limited mobility. She and her mother moved to Midland, Texas for three years where she received therapy at the Midland Texas Cerebral Palsy center. In 1958, she was selected to be “Poster Girl” with her picture on all the March of Dimes fund raiser posters.
One of the most enjoyable years of her life was when she got to go live in Hart, Texas with her older sister’s family, Elmer & Patsy Six, a niece Vicki and three nephews, Gary, Darrell and Patrick. She attended her junior year of high school living with that family who let her be just like everyone else, struggle and all.
She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior as a youngster at the First Baptist Church in Imperial, Texas. In November, 1974, Marsha moved her church membership from Hart, Texas to Northside Baptist Church in Odessa, Texas where Clydel Chapman is pastor.
She was a graduate of Buena Vista High School in Imperial, TX in 1971. In 1972, she entered Commercial Business College and graduated in 1973. In 1974, she went to work at Romac Business Forms, Inc. as a clerk typist. In 1979, she began working on an Associates Degree from Odessa College. In 1985 after completing her Associates Degree, she began working at the Imperial Water Improvement District #2 as office manager & tax collector. Lastly, she sold Avon until she became too disabled to make the deliveries.
Marsha enjoyed driving a car more than anything else and she did so until her coordination issues and leg stiffness robbed her of that privilege. She loved children and was so close to her niece’s children, Rayla and Hattie Bankhead that she referred to them as “her kids”.
Marsha was able to live alone in her home and overcame unbelievable obstacles using elbow-length crutches and later a hove-around electric chair to get around. Marsha was a very loving, forgiving, compassionate person. She often spoke of one day having a home for the homeless. Little did she know that she had already done that at different times in her life but allowing various ones to live in her home with her. One of her greatest loves was her little dog, “Rascal”. He must have been the most loved little dog there ever was. Marsha’s favorite thing was to sit in her chair with Rascal sitting on her chest. He would be fast asleep and Marsha would lovingly rub him and say, “You are a spoiled little dog”.
Marsha is survived by three sisters; Patsy Six, Geraldine King, Glenda Akins Byrd and a brother, Ronnie McDurmon also three step brothers; Jim, Robert and Donnie Newcomb and a step sister Anita. Other nephews are Richard, Norman, Russell and Curtis King, Gary, Darryl and Patrick Six, Todd Akins, Britt & Matt McDurmon. Neices are Vicki Six, Debbie Gaddis, Terry McIntyre and Carol McDurmon and a host of other family members. Marsha’s family and friends will greatly miss her and will continue to be awestruck at what she was able to accomplish in spite of her physical limitations. Although she faced many obstacles and endured pain and disappointments she will be remembered for her smile, her loving & accepting character and the love & encouragement she gave to all.
Funeral services will be held Friday, July 3, 2015 at 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church in Imperial, Texas. Graveside burial services will follow in Fort Stockton, Texas at East Hill Cemetery where she will be laid to rest beside her father. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home.
Marsha was preceded in death by her mother, Nellie McDurmon Newcomb (Miss Nellie), who taught school for 32 years, many of which were at Buena Vista in Imperial and her father, Claude Leon McDurmon, who was a Pecos County Deputy Sheriff for many years. Also preceded in death was a step brother, Charlie Newcomb, her nephew Les Brown and niece Donna Jean Brown.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorials to be paid to one of the following churches
First Assembly of God, PO Box 387, Imperial Texas, 79743
First Baptist Church, PO Box 100, imperial Texas, 79743
North Side Baptist Church, 100 West 50th St, Odessa Texas, 79764