Marion Edna (Henderson) Herd of Mesa, Arizona, passed away on January 20, 2020. Marion was born on January 6, 1925 in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. When she was eight months of age, her mother moved them to Coldwater, Kansas where she lived until her marriage. She grew to adulthood on a farm where her family raised cattle, sheep, chickens, feed crops and wheat. Marion grew up during the Great Depression and the dust bowl days where she learned life-long practical survival skills. She learned sewing and cooking from her mother that served her well throughout her life. She was a 1943 graduate of Coldwater High School and was the 1942 football queen. After graduation, she moved to Wichita, Kansas to work as a riveter in an airplane factory to help support the war effort. After World War II, she married her childhood sweetheart, C. Eugene (Gene) Herd, at her family farm near Coldwater on November 11, 1945.

They started their married life farming around Coldwater. In December 1946, they moved to Scott City, Kansas when Gene changed careers. He became a Kansas State Fish and Game Warden in 1948. They began their family while living in Coldwater with the birth of their son, Roger (1946). After moving to Scott City, their daughters, Merletha (1948) and Ironda (1949), were born. In January 1950, a job related transfer moved the family to Baxter Springs, Kansas where they lived for five and a half years. Gene was transferred back to western Kansas in 1955. They lived in Dodge City (1955) and Ford (1956), Kansas.

In 1958, they moved to Northern Arizona to begin their ministry among the Hopi, Navajo and Papago Native Americans and were affiliated with the Assemblies of God denomination. Marion taught not only Bible principles, but also practical skills of good nutrition, sewing and how to care for a family. After 34 years of working with Native Americans, they retired to Northern California in 1992 to be near their children and grandchildren.

Gene passed away in 1998. Marion continued to live in their home in Pittsburg, California. In 2010, she moved to an assisted living facility in Brentwood, California, near her daughter, Ironda. In 2013, she moved back to Arizona to live in an assisted living facility in Mesa, Arizona, near her son, where she resided until her passing.

Marion is survived by son, Roger (Launa) Herd of Mesa, Arizona, daughters, Merletha (Jim) Hamilton of Sunnyvale, California, and Ironda Long of Delaware, Ohio; three grandsons, Jeffrey Long of Las Vegas, Nevada; Richard (Meghan) Herd of Clayton, California, Duaine Herd of Concord, California; granddaughter, Cynthia (Jason) Campbell of Delaware, Ohio, seven great-grandchildren, brother LeRoy Hiner and numerous nieces, nephews, and in-laws. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, mother and stepfather Merle and Chester Hiner, father, Ben Henderson, sister, Alberta Thomas, brother Richard Hiner, and son-in-law Randall Long.

Funeral and interment services will be held Saturday,February 1 at 10:30 a.m. at the Hatfield- Prusa Funeral Home in Coldwater. Interment will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery of that city. Marion will be laid to rest next to her husband.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Marion's name may be made to the Assemblies of God Home Missions, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri, 65802.