James Carol Marshall

James Carol Marshall was born on June 29, 1943, in Wayne, Michigan, to Katherine and James Erf Marshall.  Jim attended Chelsea High School and graduated with his class in 1961. While in his senior year, he began working at Gelman Sciences as a janitor. Not a surprise to anyone who knew him, Jim worked his way up through the company to become Senior Vice President of Operations, having been credited with the company’s growth and widespread success. Gelman eventually moved to Ann Arbor to become a $50 million international research, development, and manufacturing firm. Gelman filters were used in pharmaceutical, electronic, chemical, and beverage industries worldwide. Gelman Sciences eventually became one of the largest publicly traded companies in Michigan, and by the 1990’s the company was developing and manufacturing more membranes in more types of devices than any other company in the world.

In 1993, Jim and new wife, Lee, moved to Pensacola, Florida, where Jim continued working for Gelman from one of its manufacturing plants located there. After retiring from Gelman in 1997, Jim and Lee moved to Key West into a home Jim purchased in 1980.  Jim’s lifelong passion for the ocean finally became the fulltime focus of his life. Jim loved to snorkel, dive, deep sea fish, and cook. He became a boat captain, and he even earned his pilot’s license to fly ultralight airplanes. He drank Bloody Mary cocktails garnished with shrimp and ate fresh lobster whenever he could. And to help satisfy his perpetual desire for intellectual growth, he attended marine biology courses at The College of the Florida Keys, earning all A’s in his courses.

While living in Key West, Jim and Lee would return home during the summers to their cabin in Wolverine, Michigan. It was there where they moved permanently in 2024. 

Jim Marshall passed away in Traverse City on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.  He is survived by his wife, Lela Marshall; sister, Mae Ellen Dault; nieces, Megan and Chelsea Huber; brother-in-law, Paul Huber; stepsons, Todd (Sheri) and Chad (Wannapa) Tribble; grandsons, Tyler and Gavin Tribble; and ex-wife, Rayma Adkisson, who remained a lifelong friend. Jim decided not to have a celebration of life.  However, to honor him, please consider donating to Ocean Conservancy or any related non-profit organization with an objective of enhancing ocean biodiversity and eradicating ocean pollution.