James Edwin Marion was born September 12, 1927, in Allen, Texas, to Francis Hobson and Lillie Maude (Day) Marion. He passed away June 30, 2015 at the age of 87. He married the love of his life, Margie Alene Boyd on August 20, 1949, in Garland, Texas. He is survived by his sons, Randy Marion and wife, Kynda of Bullard, Texas, Gary Marion and wife, Kim of McKinney, Texas, and Steve Marion and wife, Debi of Lucas, Texas; grandchildren, Josh Marion and wife, Tara of Dallas, Texas, Blake Marion and wife, Lindsay of Granbury, Texas, Rebecca Bass and husband, Tommy of Argyle, Texas, Monty Marion of Austin, Texas, Brooke Grinnon and husband, Adrian of McKinney, Texas, and Evan Wolfe of Frisco, Texas; six great-grandchildren; brother, Carl Day Marion of Allen, Texas; sisters, Peggy Blacketer of Tyler, Texas and Rhea Deaton of Little Rock, Arkansas; beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margie; mother, Maude; father, Francis; stepfather, Bratton Shoulders; brother, Francis Alton; sister, Betty Sue; father-in-law, Alton Boyd; and mother-in-law, Boonie Boyd.
James graduated from Frisco High School in 1945. He received his Bachelor of Education degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and a Master’s Degree in Administration from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He enrolled at SMU in 1945 on a football scholarship. In 1946, he enlisted and served proudly in the United States Army, stationed at Aberdeen, Maryland. After service in the Army he returned to SMU and graduated in the spring of 1951. Some of his most treasured memories are of playing football on the nationally ranked teams under Coach Matty Bell alongside players such as Doak Walker, Kyle Rote, and Dick McKissack, winning the Southwest Conference championships and playing in the 1948 and 1949 Cotton Bowl Classics against Penn State and Oregon.
He began his teaching/coaching career in McKinney, Texas in 1951. He taught and coached at Frisco High School from 1952 to 1960 then moved to Richardson High School where he taught through 1966. In 1967, he began his teaching career in the Allen Independent School District where he was the principal of the Allen Elementary School at the old campus on the present day location of the First Baptist Church. James became the principal of D.L. Rountree Elementary when it opened in 1974, and retired from Allen ISD and Rountree Elementary in 1990. His most fond memories are of his days at Rountree, the kids he loved, and the teachers that inspired him. Those memories sustained him throughout his days. James and Margie had the honor of having the James and Margie Marion Elementary School named for them.
James was an active member of the First United Methodist Church and the Harmony Sunday School Class in Allen, Texas.
Pallbearers: Sons; Randy Marion, Gary Marion, Steve Marion, grandsons; Josh Marion, Blake Marion, Monty Marion; brother, Carl Marion; nephews, Mike Marion, Scott Marion; and cousin, Thomas Marion.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 7, 2015, at First United Methodist Church in Allen, Texas. Interment will follow at Allen Cemetery in Allen Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Monday evening at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen and from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. prior to the service at the church.
Memorials may be made to the James and Margie Marion Elementary School fund; c/o Cappi Leonard at P.O. Box 13, Allen, Texas 75013.