Laurie Evans Marsh Sr., 91, railroad worker, healer
His community work included shutting down nuisance bars and eradicating rats in North Philadelphia.
LAURIE EVANS Marsh Sr. might not have been a bona fide doctor, but many people swore by his curative powers.
Evans, as he was known, had long dreamed of being a doctor. After combat service in World War II, he began studying holistic medicine. The advice he gave to sufferers of various ailments had friends and family seeking him out for help.
To avoid practicing medicine without a license, he stuck to giving advice, but those who took it swore they were cured, or at least felt better. They called him "Doc."
Evans Marsh, an upholsterer and wood worker, a railroad employee, a devoted community activist, churchman and father of seven, died May 28. He was 91 and lived in Germantown.
Evans was working as a signalman at the Philadelphia Navy Yard when he entered the Army on Nov. 4, 1942. He was assigned to the 463rd Amphibian Truck Company and sent overseas.
His unit operated the DUKW, called "ducks" by the soldiers, a modified deuce-and-a-half truck equipped with sealed tanks so it could operate on land and in the water. It was used to transport material and troops.
Evans' unit landed at Normandy during the invasion, June 6, 1944, and proceeded through Northern France, the Rhineland and was in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge, when the German Army made a breakthrough before Christmas 1944 and trapped American paratrooper units before being repulsed. Evans attained the rank of corporal before his discharge Dec. 30, 1945.
He married his sweetheart, Dorothy Jean Statesman, on June 1, 1946.
After training as an upholsterer and wood worker, he went to work at the old John Wanamaker department store. In the early '60s, he was hired by the former Pennsylvania Railroad. During furloughs, he kept busy with other jobs, including as a bale operator for Triangle Publications, former publisher of the Inquirer and Daily News, in 1964.
Finally called back by the railroad, he continued doing yard work and later was moved to accounting as it changed ownership to Penn Central and then Conrail. He retired as an account clerk for Conrail in 1987.
Evans was involved with the Model Cities program, then with various civic groups that sought to close down nuisance bars in North Philadelphia and eradicate a plague of rats.
He was also involved with groups that helped welcome Martin Luther King Jr. on his various visits to Philadelphia. He was thrilled to have voted twice for Barack Obama as America's first black president.
Evans was born in Philadelphia to Cassiela Shorter Marsh and Laurie Evans Johnson. He attended Central High School.
He tragically lost his youngest daughter, Velora Marsh Collier, a week before his wife died on Sept. 28, 1984.
Evans enjoyed boating and fishing in the waters off Atlantic City and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He liked to ride his motor scooter, play chess, checkers and pinochle with friends and family.
After his retirement, he became more active with veterans organizations, including Col. Charles Young Post 16, American Legion, and his church, St. Luke's Episcopal. He was a member of the Altar Guild and Men of St. Luke's.
He is survived by five daughters, Yvetta Linda "Vet" Marsh Russ, Loretta Vivienne Marsh, Jennie Marsh, Jeanette Marsh-Battle and Dorothy Estella Marsh; a son, Laurie Evans Marsh Jr.; three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Services: Were yesterday. Burial was in Chelten Hills Cemetery.