Marsha Lynn (Beard) Carothers was born on August 16, 1953 in Cherokee, Oklahoma, daughter of Billy Virl and Evah Mae (Hill) Beard. She grew up on a farm northeast of Amorita, Oklahoma with her parents, siblings Luanne, Ronda, and William, and a host of family down the road. She graduated from Burlington High School in 1971. After graduation, Marsha found a job in Enid, Oklahoma, where she lived with Ronda. Later that year, she followed Ronda to Anthony, Kansas, where she went to work at Jayco in Harper, then on to John Deere in Anthony. It wasn't a parts run to John Deere that brought Ken and Marsha together. One evening in 1973, Ken saw a beautiful woman walking down Main Street and he had to meet her. He decided to offer Marsha a ride and let's just say that Marsha couldn't resist his baby blue eyes.

On April 30, 1977, Marsha was united in marriage with Kenneth Ray Carothers at the United Methodist Church in Anthony, Kansas.  This union was blessed with two sons: Kyle and Kregg.  During their 44 years together, she spent over 30 years working at the FSA Office as a programs coordinator.  After she retired, she began working for Farm Bureau as the Harper County Coordinator, where she continued to help farmers promote agriculture to the next generation.

When she wasn't working, you could count on seeing her at almost all of Kyle and Kregg's ball games, track meets, and activities. When she was at home, she was busy crafting the boys' toys and costumes. Marsha also shared her love by cooking for the many that came to her table. If they couldn't come to her, she would deliver. Marsha was famous for everything that she made, but no one could resist her home-made chicken and noodles or her cinnamon rolls.  Harvest sure won't be the same without seeing the white van kicking up dust down the dirt road to bring everyone something for supper.

Marsha had a servant's heart and has cared for many people, including her mother, Evah, and her mother-in-law, Lorene.

If you never heard her sing, you missed out on a true blessing. She passed this love for music on to her sons and grandchildren. She performed for many at family reunions, church, Farm Bureau, Anthony Theater, funerals, and lately in her living room to post on Facebook. These videos have brought so much joy to so many and are now a true gift.

Lately, the grandchildren kept her really busy with field trips, sleepovers, singing, cooking lessons, water parks, ball games, playing cards, crafting, and afternoons together. A tradition that they will miss is a day with "Shasha" aka Grandma Marsha for their "Even Steven Birthday"-a day of shopping, lunch, and a movie.

Marsha has been a friend to so many, but even more so a loving sister, daughter, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, mom, and wife. Everyone knew her love for her family and the Lord by her stories and her joyful songs she sang.

On May 21, 2021, Marsha was called home to heaven at the age of 67.  She is welcomed to heaven by her parents, Bill and Evah Beard; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Raymond and Lorene Carothers; sister, Luanne Boham; and brother, William Beard.

Marsha will be forever missed by her husband, Ken; sons: Kyle and wife, Crystal, and Kregg and wife, Katie; grandchildren: Avry, Fiona, Titus, Cooper, and Callan; sister, Ronda Eslinger and husband, Dan; brother-in-law, Gene Carothers; brother-in-law, Loyd Boham; sister-in-law, Patti Beard; six nephews; two nieces; and a host of other relatives and many friends.

Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at the United Methodist Church in Anthony, Kansas.  Burial will follow in Forest Park Cemetery, Anthony, KS.

Public visitation will be held 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday with the family present from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Prairie Rose in Anthony.

Memorials in memory of Marsha may be made to the United Methodist Church or to Country Living Inc., and may be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003.