Marshall Acker

Marshall Acker died on Friday, February 21, 2020 while on a trip to Wyoming. He was born in Dallas, Texas on January 20, 1977, and attended Avon Old Farms School in Connecticut, the University of Kansas and Montana State University, but his great love was for outdoor adventures. He hiked glaciers in Washington, went ice climbing in Colorado and canoed down the Rio Grande River. He also rode elephants in Thailand, went bungee jumping in New Zealand and was a skydiver. Over time, Marshall turned his love into his profession and guided group horseback rides and fly fishing trips in the Bighorn Mountains for the Spear-O-Wigwam Ranch in Wyoming. More recently, he was the owner of Capitalize Fitness working as a trainer to help people meet their fitness goals.

While Marshall often struggled with depression, he had a remarkable life filled with wonderful friendships with no closer friend than his older brother Tyler. When their mother Sandy married Dr. Joe Shepard, the brothers were quickly taken in by the larger Shepard clan and they enjoyed many, happy holiday gatherings along with group trips to Santa Fe and the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming.

Marshall Acker is survived by his mother, Sandy Shepard, his brother Tyler Acker, his nephew Myles Shepard and sisters Jill (Shepard) Kraus and her husband Marc and Erin (Shepard) Davis and her husband Steven. He is also survived by his father, Dr. Barry Acker, his aunt Susan Braden along with her son Arthur Braden and his wife Molly. He was preceded in death by Dr. Joe Shepard, his brother Michael Shepard, his grandparents Mr. and Mrs. John Riehm and his uncle Jack Riehm.

A memorial service will be held at First Christian Church of Tyler at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 7, 2020. A private memorial service will be held later this summer at Spear-O-Wigwam Ranch in Wyoming.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that you consider a donation to the non-profit organization of your choice, in memory of Marshall, to the First Christian Church Mission Trip Fund or to ARC of Smith County to acknowledge Marshall’s love of his brother Tyler and others with special needs.

Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com. Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.