Obituary for Neillie Marrs

Neillie Irene Tapp Marrs

May 8, 1929 – December 13, 2018

Nellie Irene (Tapp) Shanks Marrs, age 89, longtime resident of Ponca City , passed away Thursday, December 13, 2018 in Fairfax, OK.

Friends and loved ones may pay their respects from 2-8pm Sunday, December 16, 2018 at Trout Funeral Home and Crematory with the family present to greet friends in the Historic Great Room from 2-4pm. A funeral ceremony to celebrate Nellie’s life will be held at 2:00 pm, Monday, December 17, 2018 at the Eastern Heights Christian Church with Pastor Mark Berry officiating. Following the ceremony, Nellie will be laid to rest next to her husband Eddie at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Ponca City. Casket bearers will be Galen Kruse, Matt Boston, Jeremy Kruse, Alan Loch, Jimmy Mauk, and Justin Bickford. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory.

Nellie was born on May 8, 1929 to John Orville Tapp and Elpha Aikin (Torkelson) Tapp in Ponca City, OK. She was raised on her family’s land in the Osage, graduating from Ponca City High School in 1948. After high school, she began working as a telephone operator. As life would have it, one fateful day she ran into a lineman at the telephone company in Blackwell. Their relationship blossomed into a deep love. Nellie married Eddie Shanks on September 30, 1950 in Ponca City. Their marriage flourished as they welcomed twin daughters Judy and Joyce into their lives. Nellie’s mother passed away early in life, leaving Nellie as the family matriarch before her time. Being the loving caretaker she was, Nellie embraced the role, quickly learning to garden, cook, sew and organize family events. Her home became the place family & friends gathered through the years. Holidays were a time Nellie shined in her playful creative ways, decorating and planning for the enjoyment of others. In all that she did, Nellie looked out for the interests of others and made a difference in the lives of many all the while maintaining the distinctive character of a true lady. Upon retirement from the telephone company, she & Eddie owned Melotone Background Music, covering northern Okla & southern Kansas. When her husband Eddie passed away in 1981, Nellie began working hard to ensure she was able to keep the dream home they built while embracing frugality. For several years she had Nellies Recreation Center, then worked as a professional seamstress & Interior Designer, working with her daughter for Judy Kruse Interior Designs. Also for over 20 years, Nellie cleaned Eastern Heights Christian Church where she has been a member of Eastern Heights Christian Church since 1973. In 1988, Nellie met a local widower Bill Marrs of Arkansas City on a blind date. They were married October 2, 1999, celebrating 10 years before his passing in 2009.

Survivors include her daughters: Judy Kruse and husband Galen of Ponca City, Joy Boston of Adair, OK; sister in law Mary Tapp of Ponca City, grandchildren: Christine Thompson and husband Stephen of Ponca City, Matthew Boston and wife Robin of Parker, CO, Jeremy Kruse and wife Molly of Kansas City, KS, Dan Kruse of Wichita, KS, Jason Kruse of Wichita, KS; 9 great grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Nellie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Eddie Shanks, husband Bill Marrs, siblings: John A. Tapp, O.C. ‘Tuffy’ Tapp, Ann Mauk, Grandson Michael Boston, nephew Larry Tapp and niece Linda Kaye Mauk Muegge.
Alzheimers may take her mind and body, but it can’t take WHO she was. Using Ronald Reagan’s quote “Today, Nellie slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.”

Memorial Contributions may be made to Eastern Heights Christian Church, 5100 Lake Road, Ponca City, OK 74604.

Source: Trout Funeral Home