Edward Eugene Marnell, 52, died peacefully Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017, at his home in Lake Fork, Texas.
He was born Feb. 15, 1965 in Iola, the second of three sons to Gerald Eugene Marnell and Rita Jo Thornhill Marnell. The family moved to Humboldt in 1975 where Eddie attended school and graduated from Humboldt High School in 1983. He attended Pittsburg State University where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and graduated with a degree in automotive technology. After college, he moved to Dallas, where he worked for various automotive shops specializing in foreign cars.
In Dallas, he married Tammy Lynn Murphy on July 1, 1989. They had three children, Kyle, Kevin and Kailey. They later divorced but remained good friends.
Eddie received a degree as an airplane and power frame mechanic in 1994. A master mechanic, his passion was engines and fast cars. He restored his prized 1971 Chevelle and loved working on his Z Car. He raced stock cars at various tracks in the Dallas area. His love of cars was second only to the love he had for his family who he enjoyed spending time with while fishing on Lake Fork.
Eddie is survived by mother Rita, Iola; father Gerald, Jackson, Tenn.; his sons Kyle Marnell, Mesquite, Texas, and Kevin Marnell, Seattle; daughter Kailey Marnell, Mesquite; grandson Pilot Marnell, Mesquite; brothers, Michael Marnell, Ennis, Texas, and Robert Marnell and wife Cathy, St. Louis; stepbrothers Ed Thomas, Kansas City, Mo., and Mark Thomas, Kansas City, Mo.; his two nephews, Colton Marnell, U.S. Navy and stationed in Norfolk, Va., and Christopher Marnell, Warrensburg, Mo.; and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by stepfather Bob Thomas.
Eddie’s life will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the American Legion, 712 Patterson Ave., Iola.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to www.acarf.org.
Edward Marnell
