George Ashley, the author of the Marion High School loyalty song written in 1943 passes away.
George Edward Ashley, 55, of 512 Parrish St., Marion Grade School band director, died at 2:05 a.m. Wednesday (June 5, 1963) in Marion Memorial Hospital, where he was taken Tuesday at 8:15 p.m.
He had been ill the last six month. Ashley entered Marion Memorial Hospital on April 20 and remained there until May 29. Ha was a member of the Musician’s Union, the Great Books. (Marion Group), the Congregational Church, La Grange; the Illinois Education Association, and the National Education Association, and was past state president of the Grade School Band Association
Ashley composed the music and wrote the words for the Marion High School Loyalty Song in 1943. He had written many kinds of music, the most recent band number, “The Texas Crescent,” was featured in his honor by the Marion Grade School band May 14, at the annual Junior High School Concert, under the direction of James Young.
Ashley was graduated from La Grange High School, received his music degree from Illinois Wesleyan College in Bloomington, received his master’s degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign, and was the first instructor in the grade school band program in Marion, starting in 1928.
He taught three years in Herrin, seven years in the Pecatonica-Winnebago-Seward district, and spent the remainder of his teaching career in the Marion School system.
A Musician 2/c Mr. Ashley served in the U. S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. He was active for many years in band work at the First Methodist and Aldersgate Methodist churches in Marion, and was choir director at the Seward, Illinois Congregational Church for seven years.
He was affiliated with many organizations and clubs, including the St. Elmo Chapter No. 460. Order of Eastern Star; the A. W. Rawson Masonic Lodge, No. 145, A.F. and A.M., at Pecatonica; the Scottish Rite Valley of Freeport; and the Herrin Prairie American Legion, Post No. 645.
Born in Willisville, Illinois, March 26, 1908, he was the youngest of five children of the late George and Rena Myers Ashley.
He was married Dec. 24, 1928 in Emporia, Kansas, to Audrey Detrich, who is art instructor and vocal music teacher at Marion High School. Other survivors include their daughter, Mrs. B. C. Justus and two grandchildren, Jan and Keith Justus, Corpus Christi, Tex.; two sisters, Mrs. Marie Bowers, Champaign, and Mrs. Arvid Nyline Hinckley of Minnesota; two brothers, Herbert Ashley of Marion, and Jim Ashley of Sparta.
Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at Wilson Memorial Chapel, the Rev. Everett Lynch, and Dr. Joseph Van Roekel officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 6 p.m. today.
(Extracted from the Marion Daily Republican Obituaries, Wed., June 5, 1963)