Our Hero, Marshall Littleton, was a big man in every sense of the word. Standing 6’1” and large in stature, he had a commanding presence and people noticed him when he entered a room. With his deep drawl and old time Southern philosophy, he was able to talk to anyone and earn their trust from the start. He was a kind friend to everyone and never met a stranger. He fulfilled the roles of father figure, mentor, confidant, cohort or moral compass with equal effectiveness. He always seemed to provide the support folks needed when they needed it.

He was the anchor for his family and he and his wife, Shirley, enjoyed a 32-year marriage. Their devotion built a strong relationship that was the foundation for their life together. His daughters describe him as their hero and the best Dad in the whole wide world. In their interest, he traded professional opportunities for piano recitals, band competitions, and the stability of graduating with the same friends they met in pre-school. While readily showing and demonstrating his love, he insisted on honorable behavior, often directing the girls with the quote, “There’s acceptable behavior and then there’s ‘Littleton acceptable’ behavior.” The drive and initiative that he and Shirley instilled in the girls has led them to become successful well-rounded individuals.

Marshall loved to master new hobbies and jumped into every endeavor with great passion. Over the years he engaged in construction, masterful woodworking, photography, scuba diving, hunting, fishing, golf, and music. He also enjoyed collecting equipment for each of these activities and established himself as an authority in local circles. He seemed to know a lot about a lot of things. If you needed to know how to do something…ask Marshall.

Marshall served for 34 years in the law enforcement community, ultimately becoming one of the most highly respected Certified Fire Investigators in the country. After finally achieving his much anticipated retirement, he suffered a massive heart attack the very next day and never recovered; shattering dreams of travel, hunting, fishing, extended family time, and a second career as a counselor to other law enforcement officers. Through their grief, Shirley and the girls knew he wished to be a donor. His liver and both kidneys were able to be placed, along with numerous other tissues.

The Littleton family is proud to be members of the Central Texas Organ Donor community and for the opportunity to fulfill Marshall’s mission of helping and protecting his fellow brothers and sisters. As stated at his funeral, “He was a man’s man, a cop’s cop and a shepherd among shepherds.”

Shirley Littleton
Danielle Littleton Gibbs
Deidra Littleton Flugrath