McGehee Via Marsh's Obituary
McGehee Via Marsh, JD, PhD, of Collierville, Tennessee, died peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on 31 October 2023.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Ret. USAF Colonel Robert Via and Dorothy Via neé McGehee, and son Timothy (1985). She is survived by her husband of 53 years, David; son Andrew and grandson Seth of Louisville KY; sisters Elizabeth Via (Stanley Virden) of Rome GA, Dore Via Dumas of The Villages FL, and Cary Via (Richard Kovacik) of Jacksonville FL; nephews and nieces Wesley (Marci) Bonds of Canton MI, Charles (Shannon) of Marietta GA, Amanda Catherine Peterson of The Villages FL, Aaron Scott Laird (Kristin) of Framingham MA, Mary (Bart) Knellinger of Palm Harbor FL, Gracen (Steven) Malandro of Largo FL, and Matt Kovacik of St. Petersburg FL; and great nephews and nieces Annie, Laura, Henry, Abbey, Caroline, Noah, Joshua, Mack, TY, Claire, and Michael.
McGehee was born in 1952 in Sacramento CA, yet lived uniquely and broadly as a military brat, including across the US and Italy. She graduated from Germantown (TN) High School in 1970, marrying sweetheart David that year. Her sons Andrew and Tim thrived under her brilliance in science and mathematics, art and music, humanitarian kindness, and unfaltering spirit of worldly adventure and pragmatic temperance. Inspired by Tim’s tragic death, she subsequently earned three degrees at the University of Louisville - a Bachelor of Arts in Biology, a PhD in Environmental and Toxicology/Chemistry, and a Juris Doctorate from the esteemed Louis D. Brandeis School of Law - and taught at the University of Louisville, Morehead State University, and Murray State University. Ultimately, Dr. Marsh founded her own law practice in 1997, becoming a US Patent and Trademark Office Licensed Patent Attorney in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and the District of Columbia. Her belief that strong faith is often exercised by strong trials steeled her convictions and dedication to joyfully serving those in need.
She served as an attorney at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for 14 years, retiring in July 2022 as Managing Counsel. Marsh made significant contributions to the work of various scientific and academic departments, counseling St. Jude faculty and staff on federal grants, education law, research integrity requirements, copyright law, and research contracting. She was instrumental in helping launch the St. Jude Graduate School, including serving on the school’s initial strategic planning committee. She loved animals, training service dogs in her free time for Canine Companions for Independence, which she channeled into helping develop the St. Jude facility dog program. A founding member of the Association of Research Integrity Officers, she served on the steering committee and provided insightful counsel. She was a peer reviewer for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Center for Environmental Research and Quality Assurance, on the advisory board for St. Jude Select, and a coordinator for Read to Me St. Jude and the MD/PhD Program. McGehee’s enthusiasm flowed from her desire to create an easier path than her own, not only in enabling the education and success of researchers and clinicians, but to ease the heartbreaking suffering experienced by all who seek hope for their children.
In service to the Commonwealth of Kentucky prior to St. Jude, McGehee was General Counsel to the president of the Senate and Counsel for Governor Paul Patton, acting on the Commission on Family Farms and as vice chair of the Governor’s Commission on Small Business Advocacy. She was a member of the Natural Resources Leadership Institute, the Kentucky Academy of Science, and the Kentucky Aquaculture Task Force. She co-founded and served on the board of the Kentucky Shrimp Growers’ Cooperative Association and on the steering committee for the Kentucky Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, including service as a Women in Science mentor. Dr. Marsh served as Chief Science Advisor and Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs for the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, then as Associate Director of the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at the University of Louisville, both roles directly resulting in increased organizational capacity, humanitarian empowerment, and institutional effectiveness. Her role in safeguarding a low-cost HPV vaccine is exemplary of her enduring, yet unsung impact.
Let McGehee’s humble belief in herself and great love for her family, dear friends, colleagues, and beloved dogs serve as inspiration to all. She bravely fused her talents and experience to face difficult challenges, not only for herself, but for many who may never know her hand. Those who do are fortunate to remember her dexterous intelligence, uplifting humor and kindness, and indomitable spirit.
A visitation in honor of Dr. McGehee Via Marsh will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis TN 38119, on 7 November 2023, from 5:00 until 8:00 PM CST.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at http://fundraising.stjude.org/goto/mcgehee_marsh.
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