Marshall Fox

Marshall was born July 20, 1949, in Decatur to Earl Ross Fox Sr. and Dottie Viola (Crista) Fox. He was united in marriage to Fonda Louise Wernicke October 17, 1981, after meeting her square dancing in Paradise, TX. They were happily without children.

Marshall grew up in Amarillo and graduated from Palo Duro High School in 1968. He was a member of the football and track team in addition to participating in VICA and FTA.

After High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served as an air traffic controller for ten years and continued into the Naval Reserve, retiring as an E-6. He served in Viet Nam on board USS America (CVA-66) and in 1990-91 for Desert Storm on board USS Ranger (CV-61).

He was a city letter carrier in Decatur and earned an Associate in Applied Science in Postal Service Administration at TCJC, two Certificates of Completion in Mid Management and Postal Service Administration, and an Associate of Arts degree.

After retiring he volunteered for several organizations including Texas Master Naturalists, Texas Wildlife Association, and the Fort Worth Nature Center leading school groups on nature hikes.

During a trip to Hawaii in 1989 he became an avid traveler and birdwatcher. He was a member of the American Birding Assn., Fort Worth Audubon Society and the Tallgrass Prairie Audubon Society, and for 10 years was the compiler for the Wise County Christmas Bird Count.

He and his wife danced through life together. They square danced with the Decatur Eighters for over 20 years. Members of the Fort Worth Push Club and the Denton Celtic Dancers, they also loved ballroom dancing.


Marshall never met a stranger. An accurate T-shirt of his proclaimed that "Talking is my favorite social media platform." He loved learning about and discussing history, politics, and economics. He was a patriot who was proud of having served his country, and loved his family.


He is survived by his wife, his brothers Earl Fox and wife Jeanne Tilton, Gene Fox and wife Debbie, cousins James Tolbert and wife Tammy, Frank Tolbert and wife Patty, David Fullerton and wife Cathy, aunt Dorothy Fullerton father-in-law Kenneth Wernicke, brother-in-law Keith Wernicke and wife Nian, sister-in-law Natalie Aldridge and step-brother-in-law John Dean, and numerous half-brothers, half-sisters, step-brothers,step-sisters, nieces, nephews, a great niece, great nephews, and a host of friends.

Gifts in Marshall's honor can be made to his home church First Baptist Church of Decatur, the Native Plant Society of Texas, or Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center.