Beloved husband, father and grandfather, Richard P. Marrs, 95, died after many months of declining health.

Dick was born on January 18, 1929, to Gertrude (McGlone) and John Marrs in Salem, Massachusetts. He graduated from Salem High School in 1946 and enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a corporal stationed in the Philippine Islands. He earned a bachelor's degree in public relations and communications from Boston University in 1951 and a master's degree in education from Salem State College in 1961.

During Dick's early career he pursued a variety of positions in communications, human resources, and business operations, working for CBS Electronics, Star Market Company, the United Cerebral Palsy Association, Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and the General Electric Company.

He entered the field of higher education when he became the assistant to the president of Massachusetts College of Art, followed by a long and distinguished career at Salem State College, where he was the Director of Planning and Development, the first Dean of Administration and the Vice President of Administration and Finance.

After retiring in 1989, Dick worked briefly as the acting city auditor for the City of Salem, serving under then-mayor, Neil Harrington.

Married to his wife Diane (Kelley) for sixty-one years, Dick was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, who put family first and took great pride in the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren. In the late 1990's and beyond, he and Diane took on part-time caregiver roles for their three young grandchildren, and Dick said it was the best job he ever had. He loved attending their activities and sports events, taking them on trips and being an important influence in their lives.

A great joy for Dick were summers spent with family and friends at the cottage he bought for his family in 1969 on beautiful Sunset Lake in Hampstead, New Hampshire. Proud of his Irish heritage and a life-long Boston sports fan, he greatly valued friendships made throughout his lifetime and particularly maintained many close friends from his childhood in Salem.

Dick was a man of great faith and a communicant at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Marblehead.

In addition to his wife, Diane, he is survived by his daughter Nancy of Marblehead, son Neil (Noel Chhut) of Greenport, New York, and daughter Gail Morrison (Jeffrey) of Marblehead, his three grandchildren Jack, Peter and Kelly Morrison and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers Edward and Albert Marrs and his sister Joan Mason, all of Salem.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday March 11, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal Street in Salem. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday March 12, 2024 beginning at 11:00 AM at Star of the Sea Church, 85 Atlantic Ave. Marblehead, MA.

The Marrs Family is grateful for the services and care provided by the staff of All Care in Lynn. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick's name may be directed to Marblehead Dollars for Scholars, PO Box 4, Marblehead, MA 01945 (note Richard Marrs Scholarship on the check's memo line). For more information or online guestbook, please visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com or call 978-744-0497.