Marsha Kay Lakes

Marsha Kay (Miller) Lakes, 75, passed away May 7th, 2026 in Tucson, AZ after a battle with ovarian cancer. Born in Appleton, Wisconsin to “Roz” and “Bill” Miller, Marsha was the 5th of six children. When she was a young girl, her family headed West towards San Diego where she began her education, and later relocated to Las Vegas where she attended and graduated from Clark H.S. in 1968. Marsha completed a year at University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) from 1968-1969, then returned to Las Vegas to complete her Bachelor of Science in Education in 1972 and her Master of Education in 1975 from University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).

When reflecting on Marsha’s life, much of her wisdom came from a lifelong passion for learning and educating. She dedicated most of her professional years teaching special education for Clark County School District, with roles including Master Teacher, Special Education Administrative Specialist district-wide, and Director of Special Services and Federal Programs. With the graduation of their children, Marsha and Rick left the desert and found residence in Bend, Oregon for many years. There, Marsha continued her career as University Supervisor for George Fox University and Field Supervisor for Washington State University, Vancouver.

While her vita is impressive, Marsha’s biggest impact was felt at home with her family and friends. She was a woman who valued quality and made sure to invest in every relationship she had. She held friendships from high school and recently celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with Rick this past December. Marsha took her role as grandmother and great aunt to heart, creating special bonds with each new member who often gravitated towards her nurturing touch. She had many hobbies including camping, visiting state and national parks, card-making, and reading. She could often be found reading more than one book at a time, or gifting books to loved ones with special inscriptions.

She was preceded in death by her parents Rosalyn (Rachow) and Willis Miller; brothers Daniel and Douglas (Polzin) Miller, and sisters Lorelei and Nancy Miller. Marsha is survived by her husband Richard Lakes; sister Pamela (Miller) DeMonte; children Rachel Smith and Matthew Lakes; grandchildren Kylie Allen, Tyler Torres, Julia Morrison-Rigby, Devon Lakes, Brooklyn Smith, Kazby Lakes, and Teagan Lakes.

She is also survived by numerous other nieces, nephews, family members and friends who mourn her deeply.

A memorial service will be held at East Lawn Palms Mortuary June 1st, 2026 at 0900 with celebration of life following at location TBD. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Reid Park Zoo https://reidparkzoo.org/. Commemorative pavers honoring Marsha can be found at Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, AZ, the Dedication Walkway at Red Rock Canyon, and Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, NV.