Marsha Kay Garnett, age 79, of Paducah, Ky, passed away peacefully at home after a brief illness of pancreatic cancer on October 31, 2026.
Born in Melber, Ky on Feb 19, 1947 to the late Noble (Bill) and Mary Garnett, Marsha, her brother, Ralph, and her two sons knew a loving home with them. Marsha attended Lowes School before studying nursing at Paducah Community College. After obtaining her nursing degree, she worked at Mayfield Hospital and later at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah. Marsha’s nursing career exemplified her caring and loving spirit.
At the age of 13, Marsha made a profession, choosing to make her faith in God become the central part of her life. Over the years that followed, it was evident in her life that her faith became more precious to her. Similar to the description of faith found in the second chapter of James, her faith was a living, serving faith. Even in the last few months of her life, she asked her sons what her work was supposed to be in serving God. She was assured by them that it was exactly what she had been doing all her life, caring for others.
She spent many of her years both living on convention grounds and providing care for several elderly ladies. These ladies had Sunday fellowship meetings in their homes, and Marsha’s care was instrumental in allowing them to remain in their homes as well as the meetings to continue there. Marsha touched lives and homes in this manner in various states, from Wisconsin to Florida, and it was special to her.
Marsha married Paul Farris in 1994 (deceased in 2021), and later married Sterling Shippey, who now lives in MI with his son. She and Paul had two sons, Philip and Daniel Farris.
Marsha was especially known and loved for her hospitality, her love of cooking, and expressed her deepest affection in the simple act of preparing and sharing a meal. Throughout her life, she remained close to her family as well as friends from school. She often enjoyed getting together with friends for game nights.
Marsha was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Mary Garnett, and her brother Ralph Garnett. She is survived by her sons, Philip and Daniel Farris, both of whom will keenly miss their mother. Her kindness, compassion, and the example of her life will forever be remembered and missed.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the Lone Oak Chapel of Milner & Orr Funeral Home, 3745 Old US HWY 45 South, Paducah, KY 42003. Burial will follow at Owens Chapel Cemetery in Melber.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2026, at the Lone Oak Chapel of Milner & Orr Funeral Home, 3745 Old US HWY 45 South, Paducah, KY 42003. Visitation will also be held from 10:00 am until the service time of 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to: Mercy Health Home Care by Compassus, 225 Medical Center Dr #203, Paducah, KY 42003.
Service recording will be available following the service by visiting www.milnerandorr.com
