Marshall W. Backus

Marshall W. Backus, 97, of Sun City, AZ passed away on January 23, 2012 at his home in Brighton Gardens. Marshall (Mark) was born on December 16, 1914, in Heuvelton, NY to the late Robert I. Backus & the late Dacy Fay Marshall Backus. After finishing High School & Ag-Tech School in Canton, NY, in 1935, Mark got his first job as a retail clerk at the Grain League Federation Exchange in Heuvelton, NY. Mark married Helen Duffer on March 1, 1938 & they moved to Evans Mills, NY where he began a series of promotions that was to mark his career with the cooperative for 38 years. By 1957, Mark had moved up to district manager in Ithaca, NY then on to feed sales manager in 1968 when GLF had merged and become a giant farm cooperative known as Agway. In 1972, Mark was named media coordinator, a position he held until retirement in January 1978. Helen & Mark moved to AZ in 1978 & settled in Sun City. Mr. Backus enjoyed golf, bowling, & was active in church committees, Elks, & Lions Club. Survivors include his daughter Elaine Wood & son-in-law, James Wood of Surprise, AZ, & 4 grandchildren: Shari, Jeff, Julie, Susan, & 4 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife Helen, son Bradley, & brother Donald. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Willowbrook United Methodist Church Foundation, Sun City, AZ or the American Macular Degeneration Foundation. For online condolences please visit www.sunlandmemorial.com.