Marshall Dunn 1954 – 2022
Marshall Patrick Dunn, Marsh, as we all called him, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Sunday, May 22, 2022. He was 68 years old.
Born on Jan 14, 1954, in San Diego, California, Marsh spent his early years exploring the Southern California canyons, hanging out at the beach, catching critters of all sorts, and running wild with his two brothers and gang of childhood friends, several of whom remained his best friends throughout his life. He attended Crawford High School in San Diego.
Marshall moved to Sonora when, as he put it, “I was driving down the highway and I knew I had to get out of the city.” He joined his brother, Greg, in Twain Harte, and later raised his family in Cedar Ridge, where he rebuilt the cabin that became his castle and pride and joy.
In Sonora, Marshall found his recreation on the softball diamonds of Merlo Field. Marshall and his brother, Greg, were known for being great ball players and intense competitors. More than a few spectators had to cover their ears when the occasional, yet inevitable, strikeout occurred. But it was the homeruns people loved to see!
Marshall was a lifelong stone mason, a career he began in San Diego and built into a successful business in Sonora. He took great pride in the work he created with his hands, and his craftsmanship and creations can be seen throughout Tuolumne County and beyond.
Anyone who knew Marshall knew that one of his defining traits was his incredible work ethic. He would wake at 4a.m., work long days in the heat, and come home to continue his jobs around the home or stop by friends to help with their needs. He held hard work in the highest regard, and if you were a hard worker, you were a friend of Marshall’s.
At the end of the day, he was known as an incredible cook and barbecue maestro, always feeding everyone before himself, never serving anything but the best food. Cooking for his wife, his kids, his mom, and often his neighbors was a joy to Marshall and something we all came to love, expect, and now, miss terribly.
The happiest that Marshall ever was, though, was when he was outside in nature. It did not matter if it was the snowy peaks of the Sonora Pass, the foggy shores of the California coast, or the vast, quiet expanses of the Sonoran Desert, all Marsh wanted to do was walk and look for wildlife. He traveled to Africa twice, Alaska many times, and throughout the country to the natural places that brought him peace and adrenaline at the same time. With his wife, Rebecca, children Joey and Jackson, and most recently his grandson and new nature sidekick, Vinny, he would spend hours wandering, exploring, and marveling at life on Earth. Raptors and reptiles were his favorites, and days catching snakes and spotting hawks gave Marshall incredible joy. He was a tireless and vocal advocate for conservation and preservation and always sought to instill his love for nature in the people he met. In many instances, he accomplished just that.
Marshall always said that “Family is the only thing that matters,” and “I could be dead tomorrow,” as a justification for his willingness to do anything and be anywhere for all of us. He was so right. So many of us love him, and so many of us will miss him. But we will see him everywhere; in the earth, in the animals, and in the work he did with his hands. And we know that many of us are who we are because of Marshall.
Marshall is survived by his wife, Rebecca; children Jackson and Joey; grandchildren India and Vincent; brothers Greg and Brian; and nieces, Laurel, Coleen, and Alisa.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Rose and Daryl Dunn, and sister, Pamela Dunn.
Marshall’s celebration of life will be held at Bottini Apple Ranch, one of his favorite places on the planet, at 3p.m. on Saturday, June 25.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to one of Marshall’s favorite organizations, Hawk Watch International at www.hawkwatch.org.