Emmet Fredrick Marshall, of Milton and previously a longtime Bainbridge Island resident, passed away suddenly on June 23, 2014 in Tacoma surrounded by his family.

Emmet was born on July 17, 1930 in Whitman, Nebraska to Gerald Marshall and Charlsie Wright.

Emmet was stationed at Fort Warden while in the Army where he spent a majority of his time on the water as a seaman and coxswain piloting landing crafts in Eniwetok.

After three years in the Army, Emmet moved to Scottsbluff, Nebraska where, among other things, he started his first direct mail advertising business. After a few years, he moved back to Seattle and went to work at Mail Advertising Bureau.

Emmet purchased the company after 19 years and grew the business the right way, the “old school” way with everyone trusting his word on a handshake. He became prominent in the industry and was often a speaker at conferences across the country and even to classes at University of Washington.

Within the company, he led by example with his incredible work ethic and was known as a fair boss who had the respect of his employees. Emmet was quite proud of being able to run the business and pass it and his business integrity along to his children. In the last years, he continued to head in to work with his much loved Mail Ad family. He enjoyed greeting his many friends in the business that would stop by to see him and enjoy lunch with his family.

While at Mail Advertising Bureau, Emmet met his wife, Lois Gail Marshall (Tatterson).

They were married on Oct. 14, 1966 and had three children, Hunter, Emmet II (Twoey) and Christina. He loved family and family life on Bainbridge Island. Even with the long commute and workdays, he found time to volunteer in the Bainbridge Island community. He was on the Bainbridge Island park board (as chairman for two of the four years) and Little League president, all the while providing printing services for BI Arts & Crafts, schools and the parks department.

Though Emmet was a strong man in business and life, he had a compassionate and warm heart. He was a kind person and a loving family man who adored his children. While boating and fishing were his passions, the birth and spoiling of his grandchildren made his life complete.

Emmet is survived by his wife Gail; sons Paul (Sue), Hunter and Emmet II (Kelly); daughter Christina (Rochelle); grandchildren Heather (Randy), Jackson, Cooper, and Madison; great-grandson Corbin; sister, Polly; sister-in-law Anne (Max); brother-in-law Townsend; and many special nieces and nephews. Emmet is preceded in death by his sister Jessie and brother Bill.

A private burial will be held at Island Lake Cemetery in July.

A celebration of life will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 at Kiana Lodge.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Children’s Hospital as Emmet’s true passion was caring for children.

The family sincerely thanks the incredible compassion and care given by the doctors, nurses and staff at Tacoma General Hospital.