Funeral service for COL (Retired) John T. Marley, III "Ted", will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 26, 2019 in Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel with Deacon David Bunch, Holy Family Catholic Church officiating.

Burial with full military honors will follow in Post Cemetery, Fort Sill.

Viewing will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM at Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.  A reception will be held at the Patriot Club on Fort Sill from 11:45 AM until 1:00 PM.  Everyone in attendance is invited.

Ted Marley passed away peacefully following a brief illness on August 17, 2019, in Lawton. He was born May 23, 1927, in Sparrows Point, Maryland.  He attended the US Military Academy and graduated in 1949 as a 2LT Field Artillery.  Immediately following graduation, he married his sweetheart, Joyce E. Greweling of Louisville, KY.  His 30 year, decorated US Army career brought tours of duty in Fort Sill, Korea, Fort Benning, Austria, Italy, Princeton University (as ROTC professor), Fort Leavenworth, USMC San Diego, Spain, Fort Sill, Vietnam, Washington DC, and completed his career at the rank of Colonel as the Deputy Installation Commander Fort Sill in 1979.

After retirement he became Vice President at Fort Sill National Bank for ten years before he was elected Mayor of Lawton from 1991 through 1998.  He fully retired in 1998.  In retirement, he began volunteering for the Red Cross and accepted the position of Army Reserve Ambassador for the state of Oklahoma.

An avid athlete, Ted held dual All American honors in Lacrosse and in Soccer at West Point.  He also enjoyed playing ice hockey, golf and bowling.  Ted was known as the perfect gentleman and had a keen sense of humor.

Ted had a servant's spirit.  He worked tirelessly toward improving the relations between Fort Sill and the City of Lawton.  He lived by the USMA Cadet's Prayer to "always choose the harder right than the easier wrong".  Despite holding public office, he liked to operate from the sidelines out of the limelight.  It is impossible to measure the number of Lawtonians he touched through his service to the City.

Ted and Joyce had three children: Lisa E. Marley of Lawton, COL (R) John T. Marley, IV of Steilacoom WA, and Steven G. Marley of Clearwater FL.  John T. Marley, IV is married to Sun Young and they have two children John T. Marley, V and Christopher K. Marley.  Ted was preceded in death by Joyce in 1987.

In 1988, Ted married the former Emma Jeanette (Jan) Holifield.  Jan had six children: Patricia, Mona, Philip, Michael, Julie and Christopher; along with 13 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Ted was preceded in death by Jan in 2018.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Comanche County Memorial Hospital for their excellent care and tenderness for Ted.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.