John Allen Marley (Papa), 90, passed away peacefully on November 4th, 2023. John was born on October 10th, 1933, in Newton, Mississippi, to the late Eugene and Dorothy Miller Marley. He was educated in the Newton Public Schools and graduated from Mississippi State University. During college he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and met the love of his life, Martha Whitfield.
John and Martha were married in Jackson on June 12th, 1955, and he joined the Army in August of the same year. While stationed in Fort Devens, Massachusetts John was awarded the Army's highest non-combat decoration for heroism for “courageously and effectively lunging after a live grenade and hurling it away from a group of exposed grenadiers and umpires during a squad test that went awry. 1st lieutenant Marley saved the lives of many that day."
After John's years in the military, he went to work for General Electric. During this career they lived in Cleveland, Ohio, New Orleans, Louisiana, Cincinnati, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan. In 1982 John and Martha decided it was time to leave the cold weather and move closer to family. After several years in the restaurant business in Jackson, John began a second career with Video Gaming Technologies. They moved to Madisonville, Louisiana where he and Martha were active in the First Baptist Church of Covington and spent many years entertaining friends and family at their home on the Tchefuncta River. While working with VGT John often traveled to Oklahoma, making many lifelong friendships, especially with the Choctaw Nation.
In 2019 John and Martha returned to where it all began, Jackson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Whitfield Marley, his parents Dorothy and Eugene Marley, his sister Jean Marley Young and his brother David Marley. He is survived by his children, Mike Marley, Mark Marley (Libby), Melissa Marley, his sister-in-law Faye Marley, grandchildren, Garner Marley, Will Marley (Lucia), Sarah Kathryn Marley, Chase Whittington, Sophia Cameron, greatgrandchild Kit Marley and a number of nieces and nephews.
With a gregarious personality, John was a kind, generous and genuine gentleman that loved God, his country, his family, his friends, Mississippi State and Johnny Cash. With a joke at hand, and a song in his heart, he never met a stranger. Many fond memories will be cherished by the family and friends near and far who loved “Papa."
A private family service will be held at Lakewood Memorial Park in Jackson on Friday November 10th. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to The John Marley Scholarship Fund, 4 NE 10th Street #436, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 or to the charity of choice.
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