Obituary: Lacour, Marshall W.
He was born on September 25, 1916 the only child of his parents William G. and Irene (Conk) La Cour in Long Branch, New Jersey and his family moved shortly after his birth to Alhambra, California where he grew up.
He graduated from Alhambra City High School in 1935 and continued his education at Pasadena City College; his two main passions for photography and music developed during this time.
He would continue his education at East L.A City College, Long Beach State College, University of California (Irvine & Los Angeles campuses) over the next 25 years with periodic interruptions from WWII and employment opportunities.
Marshall served in the U.S. Navy as a Photography Mate and submariner on the USS Bowfin, though his military “career” had already begun in High School and college as a member of ROTC and the U.S. Marine Corps’s.
Company B of Pasadena, California.
He met his beautiful bride Kathryn P. Beyer (his Katie) through mutual friends after his discharge from the service in 1944 and they were married in 1945 in Pasadena.
Marshall was an avid photographer both recreationally and professionally starting in Industrial photography, becoming a store/retail owner (the Alhambra Camera Exchange), doing Free-lance work, opening his own Photography Studio on Belmont Pier in Long Beach, and then finally, after obtaining his BA and MA in Photography and his teaching credential , went into teaching it full time for the last twenty five years of his professional career, retiring as Chairman of the Photography Department of Cypress College in 1980.
Marshall’s other interests and accomplishments include the Boy Scouts of America (Eagle Scout); he was a member of numerous bands and local orchestras (proficiently playing the trumpet, bugle, euphonium and piano); he was an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain with one of his most notable prints “White Horse Rearing” included in their Tyng Collection in London, as well as in collections of the Cathay Museum in Singapore and the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.; and author of beginning photography textbook “Photo Technology” used in numerous high schools and colleges throughout the United States.
Marshall is survived by his daughter, Poor Clare Nun Sister Marcia Kay La Cour and numerous cousins, mostly in New Jersey.
He was preceded in death by his wife Kathryn and his parents.
A viewing is scheduled for Tuesday, October 1 at Hennessey Smith Funeral Home, 2203 N. Division from 10:00am to 5:00pm.
The Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday, October 2 at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 4400 block of Jefferson Street.
Reception in the Parish Hall will follow and the Interment will be at 2:00pm at Holy Cross Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Poor Clare Nuns, 4419 North Hawthorne Street, Spokane, Wa, 99205 will be greatly welcomed and appreciated.
Special thanks to Hospice of Spokane, the Brookdale Harbor Crest Retirement Community, Doctor Brian Seppi and caregiver extraordinaire Linda Wagner for all of their loving care and support for Marshall in his final days.
Please visit Marshall’s online memorial at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com, and leave a message of condolence.
Arrangements have been entrusted to: