Jonathan Kurt Marrs

Jonathan “Kurt” Marrs died unexpectedly in the early morning hours of December 12, 2024, at the age of 54. He was born in Amarillo, Texas on January 28th, 1970, to Marshall “Wayne” Marrs and Helen Manos Marrs. The family then moved to Colorado where Kurt spent the rest of his life with minor stints in Illinois and Kansas. 

Kurt was a proud graduate of Lakewood High School (Class of ‘88). From there, he enrolled at The University of Colorado from which he graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. He was co-author of several research papers throughout the course of his studies. A football season ticket holder since 1988, he was perhaps the world’s biggest CU fan. He was the recipient of the Evans Scholarship and a proud Chick Evans Scholar. He mentored several Scholars through the program, and they were among his proudest achievements.

He married Christy Lynn Davis on July 17th, 1993, who he met at Lakewood High, and started dating at CU. Together they had three children: Marshall Davis, Jonathan Connor, and Kaylie Nicole. There was no greater source of pride for Kurt than his family. 

He spent his career in healthcare and started at Merck & CO in 1992. He was a proud “Merck Man” for over 25 years. He was an award-winning sales rep and later manager at Merck where he mentored and made many friends. He later went on to work for Dynavax and Novavax, where he ended his career. A healer at heart, he dedicated his entire professional life to the eradication of disease through medicine.

Partially because of his love for the Evans Scholar Foundation, Kurt was an excellent caddie and a skilled golfer (on his good days). He was proud of his many impressive rounds but in his finest golfing hour, he got a hole-in-one on the 27th hole of West Woods Golf Club on June 28th, 2015. 

Kurt had a competitive spirit and loved sports of all kinds. Though he loved football most of all, particularly the Buffs and the Broncos, he could become fixated on any sport. Basketball, figure skating, boxing, gymnastics - anything could ignite that competitive spark. He could often be found on gameday, shouting at the TV. 

He was a passionate advocate for the homeless, for underserved college hopefuls (particularly Evans Scholars), and for his church communities. Kurt was definitionally fun-loving and had a joke or a song for everybody and everything. Above all, he was a loving husband, phenomenal father, loyal and often lifelong friend, and father figure to many, despite his near constant needling, teasing, and pranking. 

Kurt is preceded in death by his father, Marshall Wayne (died 1974); his mother Helen (died 2015); his Uncles Sam and Jim; his Aunts Ann and Ruby; his Sister-In-Law Kathy Davis; and his beloved dog Obi. He is survived by his brother Erik; his adopted sister Laura; his Wife Christy and her parents Art and Roberta Davis; and his children Marshall, Connor, and Kaylie. He is also survived by three godsons, nine nieces and nephews, five great-nieces and nephews, and many, many other loved ones and close friends. 

Services will be held on January 4th at 10am in the Byron R. White Stadium Club at Folsom Field at the University of Colorado in Boulder, further details pending. Obituary will be updated as details become available. Feel free to wear what you feel is appropriate, however, in honor of Kurt’s beloved CU, attendees are strongly encouraged to wear Buffs gear or black and gold. In lieu of flowers or gifts for the family, please make a memorial donation ‘in memory of’ Kurt Marrs to the Evans Scholar Foundation. You can also choose to give to the Jeffco Center for Mental Health in Kurt’s name.

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