we have a deceased list. can you put the whole list on at once? The only way I saw to do it was one at a time

I Also don't understand the section suggesting to add an asterick by the name * ...that does not seem to make it automatic

That suggestion to add an asterisk by each name is only for the Upload Classlist. It will make it automatic when the class list is uploaded, those with the "*" will automatically be added to the In Memory page.