Shelley Marshall was a dedicated teacher and guidance counselor. She was a wife and mother, sister and friend. The Mason High School guidance counselor died in her sleep early Friday. She was 29.

        Mrs. Marshall of Liberty Township had no known health problems, and health officials still have not determined the cause of her death.

        “I'm sitting in her chair right now. I worked with her. I'm a secretary in the guidance office (at the high school). She was my best friend,” said Karen Morris of Deerfield Township, who went to the school Saturday night.

        “She was a person who, if you had a bad day, you could go into her office and her smile would light up and you'd forget the bad day you were having. She was so positive, you couldn't be angry around her and you'd always go back to your day a happy person. I had to come to school (Saturday night) because I needed that warm, fuzzy feeling you felt just being around her. I needed that one last time.”

        A native of Canton, Ohio, Mrs. Marshall graduated from Perry High School. In 1994, she graduated from the University of Dayton. That same year, she was hired in Mason to teach sixth-grade math.

        She became a guidance counselor in 1999.

        Mrs. Marshall was active in extracurricular activities at school. She coached middle school volleyball and was involved in Mason High School Career Day. She initiated the peer counseling group at Mason High School.

        “Shelley was just a really special gift to the school and a special person in every way,” said Mason High School principal Amy Spicher.

        School will be closed Monday while 4,000 students mourn Mrs. Marshall's death. Mason High, Mason Middle and Mason Intermediate schools will not be in session.

        Mrs. Marshall loved outdoor activities like hiking and biking. She also enjoyed watching and playing many sports and reading.

        “She was a loving and devoted wife and mother. Professionally, she was held in high regard. As a family member, she was second to none,” said her brother-in-law, Aaron Marshall.

        Survivors include her husband of six years, Matt; two daughters, Katey, 6 months, and Abbey, 2; parents, Dale and Elizabeth Martin of Canton; brother, Michael Martin of Wooster, Ohio; and grandparents, Ilse Schweizer of Massillon, Ohio and Elmer and Carole Miday of Canton.

        Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today at Hodapp Funeral Home, 8815 Cincinnati-Columbus Road, U.S. 42, West Chester. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 5720 Hamilton-Mason Road, Liberty Township. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Montgomery.

        Memorials may be made to the Shelley Marshall Fund at any Fifth Third Bank location.

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