Marian Irene Shirk, age 83, of Memphis, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at her home in Memphis. She was born in rural New Holland, Pennsylvania; Lancaster County on December 24, 1930 to Elmer Jay and Verna Emily Musser Martin. Marian thrived on adventure and the outdoors. She completed eight years of formal education but learned much more than that while living in Paraguay, South America in the chaco several years. She related many spell-binding stories about life among the Indians living in close proximity to their Mennonite colony. Flocks of parrots and doves stole their ripening grain; jaguars and pumas abounded as did snakes, lizards, roaches and termites. Her parents, with nine children, worked hard in ranching and gardening in extreme heat. After two years of brutal homesickness, heat and disease the Elmer Martin family returned again to Lancaster County Pennsylvania. Marian was married to Walter B. Shirk on November 3, 1962, in New Holland, Pennsylvania but lived over half of her life in Missouri where she and Walter raised their two children. She enjoyed gardening and farming and took interest in and was caring to everyone, making her nieces and nephews feel very special. She was an athlete even after the age of 65 and never feared man or beast but did fear the Lord. She had a commanding knowledge of her Bible and loved the Lord. Marian was a member of the Cornerstone Mennonite Church of Memphis, Missouri. She is survived by her husband, Walter B. Shirk, of Memphis, Missouri; a son, Clifford Shirk and his wife, Stacey, of Narvon, Pennsylvania; a daughter, Clydine Sauder and her husband, James, of Lititz, Pennsylvania; ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Also surviving are three brothers: Stanley Martin of Ephrata, Pennsylvania; Lloyd Martin of Gap, Pennsylvania; Earl Martin of rural Denver, Pennsylvania, seventy-five nieces and nephews and many, many grand and great grand siblings. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers and four sisters: Shelly Martin, Florence Stauffer, Virginia Stauffer, Chester Martin, Fred Martin, Vera Shirk, June Martin and Melvin Martin.