A funeral service for Michael Ryan Marr was held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 9, 2017, at Community of Christ Church in Shenandoah, Iowa. Interment was held at Walden Grove Cemetery, Westboro, MO. Priests Shawn and Mark Manchester and Priest Shelly Twitchell officiated. Services were under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio. Mike was born on November 30, 1948, in Council Bluffs, IA, to Joseph Clifford and Josephine Arlene (Vaughn) Marr. He attended elementary and junior high school in Council Bluffs at Roosevelt. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School with the Class of 1968.
Mike met the love of his life, Sandra Sue Abbott, while attending high school. They were married July 8, 1967. Together, they had three daughters: Shawn, Shelly and Melanie. Shortly after their marriage, Mike began working for the Milwaukee Railroad in Perry, IA. He and Sandy made their home in Perry and then Rippey, IA, at this time. When the Milwaukee Railroad closed, Mike and Sandy moved to Howe, TX, where he worked for the BNSF Railroad. In March of 1983, they moved to Westboro, where Mike learned to operate a tiling machine. He tiled for Mather & Sons for the rest of his life. Mike was a volunteer fireman for many years in Westboro. He and Sandy also became Atchison County First Responders in 2008. Together, they responded to many calls and helped many people. He was always willing to take the time to help someone out whether they were friend, family or stranger. Mike attended church at the Shenandoah Community of Christ. He passed away Monday, March 6, 2017, at his home in Westboro at the age of 68. Besides his parents, Mike was preceded in death by his brother, Joe Marr. He is survived by his wife, Sandy, of the home; daughters, Shawn Manchester and husband, Mark, Westboro, Shelly Twitchell and friend, George Selleck, Lansing, Kansas, and Melanie Otto and husband, John, Chesapeake Beach, Maryland; grandchildren, Chris, Andrew and Kyle Sloop, Mark, Miles, Jessica, Malcolm (+1) and Michael Manchester, Michael, Jessie, Joshua and Tommy Twitchell, and Brittany and Derick Otto; brother, Russell Marr and wife, Sandra; sister, Teresa Mutum and husband, Dave; and many nieces, nephews and family members. Memorials may be directed to the Westboro Volunteer Fire Department or Community of Christ, Shenandoah. Online condolences may be left at www.minterfuneralchap­els.com.