Roger Dale Marshall

Nashville recording artist Roger Dale Marshall, 72, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at Parkview Whitley Hospital, surrounded by loving family in his final days. As a regionally famous country and rock guitarist, man of many talents, and most importantly loving father and grandfather, his presence will be greatly missed. Born January 9, 1951, in Garrett, Kentucky, he was the son of Claude and Ruby Jean (Blackburn) Marshall.  As Roger sang on his album “Hiding In the Wide Open” (Roger Marshall & The Law, 2005), “I never wanted no more than was mine/ And to lay down someday and go home/ With a satisfied mind.”

Roger grew up as the son of a Kentucky coalminer and spent his childhood playing music. Later, Roger's family moved to Michigan and on to Bluffton, Indiana, where he attended Bluffton-Harrison High School.  Being a gifted and talented musician skilled on guitar, harmonica, mandolin, bass, and piano, Roger played with many of the country music greats including Crystal Gayle, Freddie Fender, Alabama, Hank Jr., Carl Perkins, Jerry Reed, and Mel Tillis. He produced multiple albums during his life with the Silver Dollar Band, DJ Band, and his own band, Marshall Law. The self-titled Silver Dollar Band album was produced by Alabama’s producer Harold Shedd. Roger was famously known for playing guitar solos with his teeth in the final songs of his shows, always amazing and delighting the crowds who supported him to the very end of his life. Even in his final days, he was able to put on a show for everyone on the 2nd floor of Parkview Whitley Hospital with family and friends, singing and playing guitar, once again amazing those who loved him with his passion for music.

Roger lived in DeKalb County before moving to Columbia City in 2018. Roger was an incredibly dedicated family man and was a fixture at each of his grandchildren’s sporting and dancing events. He loved the outdoors greatly; fishing, hunting and golf were some of his favorite pastimes. Roger was more than just a talented musician. He was kindhearted, loved hard, loved life, and was compassionate to those who had less. He was a prankster, incredibly funny and ornery, and you could tell how much he liked you by the level of teasing he dished out.

Roger is survived by his long-time love, Julia Fanson; his five children: Shawn (Erin) Marshall, Jesse (Beth) Marshall, Brandon (Sarah) Marshall, Jessica Marshall and Jamie Marshall, and 16 grandchildren. He is additionally survived by siblings, Priscilla "Sis" Johnson, Claude "Jr" (Zella "Chava") Marshall, David (Linda) Marshall, Claudette "Punk" Bowlin, Ruthie Robinson and Albert (Desire) Marshall, and Elbert Marshall; stepsiblings Susie Betz Gamble, Luanne Gerig, LeAnn Barnes, and sister-in-law Rita Betz. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepmother Doris Marshall; stepfather Cooper Turner; infant brother, James Grover Marshall, and stepbrother Ron Betz.

A Celebration of Roger's life will be from 1-6 pm on Sunday, July 23, 2023 with a sharing of memories from 3 to 3:30 pm at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given in his memory towards his final expenses, in care of DeMoney-Grimes. To send Roger's family an online condolences  or make an online donation visit www.DeMoneyGrimes.com.