H.D. "Pete" Marion

H.D. "Pete" Marion passed peacefully at his home on Sunday, May 13, 2012 surrounded by family. Mr. Marion, a third generation Wyoming family, was born at home in Lander on July 13, 1921. His parents were William L. and Minnie Elizabeth Marion. He was the third son in a family of five children. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Everett and William "Ray", and his sister, Ione Marion Carroll. His sister, Mrs. Maxine Cooper of Cheyenne, survives him. While in high school at Fremont County Vocational School, he participated in varsity athletics and was elected President of his Senior Class. In 1942, after graduation from high school, he entered military service and served in World War II with the 3rd Signal Battalion. During the war he was stationed in Okinawa, among other locations, where he established radio communications for the Battle of Okinawa. He received the following decorations: American Theater of Operation's Service; Asiatic Pacific Service Ribbon; Good Conduct Medal, and a Victory Medal. He separated from the service on January 24, 1946. After the war, Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph employed Mr. Marion from 1946 until 1949 when he followed his father into the life insurance business. Mr. Marion received his insurance license in October 1949 and was hired by New York Life Insurance. He moved to Cheyenne in January, 1950. Mr. Marion joined Franklin Life Insurance Company in July 1951 and worked for over three decades as a salesman and ultimately as Regional Manager supervising agents in three states. He transitioned from Franklin Life to American General Insurance when the companies merged. Mr. Marion actively sold live insurance for fifty years. Through the years Mr. Marion mentored many salesmen who became successful, including his son, William "Bill" Marion. Bill Marion took over the Marion Agency in 1989. In 1950, Mr. Marion met his wife, Caryl Hatch Marion, on her birthday, March 26th, and after a brief courtship, they married on his birthday, July 13th. They were married at Sr. Mark's Episcopal Church. In July 2010, they celebrated 60 years of marriage with a family reunion in Custer National Park, South Dakota. The highlight of the reunion was a dinner at Sylvan Lake Lodge where the couple dined on their honeymoon. His wife, Caryl, survives him. The couple had five children, two of whom preceded Mr. Marion in death, Catherine Ann and Charles Everett. The three surviving children are Pete Marion of Orlando, Florida; William "Bill" Marion of Cheyenne, and Kathleen Marion Carr of Boise, Idaho. Mr. Marion has four grandchildren: Michelle Marion-Layton of Denver, Colorado, Marc Marion of Orlando, Florida, Megan Marion of Steamboat, Colorado, and Zoe Carr of Boise, Idaho. While working in the life insurance business, Mr. Marion was a member of the following community organizations: Kiwanis (nearly 50 years); Masonic Lodge both in Lander through Wyoming Lodge No. 2 (69 years) and Cheyenne where he was a charter member if the Capitol Lodge #54(55 years); Wyoming Consistory (61 years); Korean Shrine (61 years); Mizpa Chapter of the Eastern Star (45 years) and the American Legion and VFW (65 years). Mr. Marion also organized the first chapter of Salesman with a Purpose "SWAP" in Cheyenne. Through SWAP he communicated that the power of positive thinking could lead to a salesman's success. Mr. Marion was active in Republican politics and helped elect numerous Republican candidates. He served at the local level on the Laramie County Central Committee for over twenty years. He was an early supporter of both Dick Cheney for Congress and served on his first Congressional and Organizing Committee and for Al Simpson for US Senate. He served on Senator Malcolm Wallop's steering committee for three terms. From 1976-1984 he worked at the grassroots level to elect Ronald Reagan President. One of the highlights of his life was being invited to attend and participate in Ronald Reagan's inauguration on January 20, 1981. Mr. Marion was a lifelong Episcopalian and a member of St. Marks and St. Christopher's Episcopal Churches. In 2004 he helped charter the Anglican Church of St. Peter. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either the Anglican Church of St. Peter, P.O. Box 20283, Cheyenne Wyoming 82003 or to Shriner's Children Hospital care/of the local Cheyenne Shrine Club at Post Office Box 322, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003. Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 17th from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Schrader Funeral Home. A funeral service will be conducted on Friday, May 18th at 10:00 a.m. at the Schrader Chapel with Father Skip Reeves officiating. An interment service with military honors will follow at Lakeview Cemetery. Friends are invited to a reception to be held at the Cheyenne County Club following the interment.

Service

Friday, May 18, 2012 11:00am

Schrader Chapel

2323 Carey Avenue

CHEYENNE, WY 82001

Visitation

Thursday, May 17, 2012 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Schrader Funeral Home

2323 Carey Avenue

CHEYENNE, WY 82001

Visitation

Thursday, May 17, 2012 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Schrader Funeral Home

2323 Carey Avenue

CHEYENNE, WY 82001

Interment

Lakeview Cemetery

Pershing Blvd

CHEYENNE, WY 82001

Reception

Cheyenne Country Club

800 Stinner Road

CHEYENNE, WY 82001