Marshall Lee Arp was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, and grew up in Turley (which he called the "Garden Spot of the World"). He was the only child of Minnie and Siler Arp. Siler would take his young son along to play ball with his fellow oilfield workers. As a young teen he became their pitcher. He played drums in Tulsa's Central High School Band. Soon after graduating he went to serve his country in World War II. He was trained as a radio man but was given the bazooka job instead. When his commanding officers discovered he was a good softball pitcher, they would switch his rank for the day so he could pitch for the officers in their inter-regiment games. After the war, he was hired by Skelly Oil as an auditor and pitched on their oil league team. Marshall also worked in his later years for the Catholic Diocese of Tulsa.

"Swamp" met Jean Ratican after the war. He converted to Catholicism and married Jean. They had five children, whom they raised in the St. Pius X neighborhood, where they were very active with the church and school. Marshall was especially involved with organizing and coaching all his children in softball, baseball and basketball. He started the girls' basketball program at Bishop Kelley High School and was their first coach. "Precious" was inducted into Bishop Kelley's Hall of Fame and Athletic Hall of Fame. M.L. was outgoing and very enthusiastic about Bishop Kelley, especially if his grandchildren were involved. He loved flea markets, garage sales, and collecting knives and marbles. He loved his cats and gambling. He enjoyed watching Cardinal baseball. He loved St. Pius X. Most of all, he loved Jean and their children and spouses, Nancy and Tom Schooley; Betsy and Wally Bryce; Mary and Terry Clark; Katie and Mark Maguire; and Tom and Sarah Arp. He adored his 18 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

Marshall would appreciate memorial contributions to be made to the "Now Is the Time" capital campaign at St. Pius X School, 1717 S 75th East Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74112.

A Memorial Mass will be Saturday, August 22, 2015, 11:00 a.m., at St. Pius X Church.

FITZGERALD IVY CHAPEL  918-585-1151.