He graduated from Marion High School in 1955. He spent three years in the United States Navy as a radioman, stationed at Kamiseya, Japan and graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Master’s Degree in Science and Education and a 6 year Specialist Certificate.
Wes was married on September 5, 1959, to his childhood sweetheart Shirley A. Dempsey and together they enjoyed 46 happy years. They were blessed with two children, Timothy and Jil Ann Deaton and one granddaughter, Allexis Renee Deaton.
Wes spent his working career as an educator at Marion High School for 33 years teaching primarily vocational trades such as general shop, electricity, metal and crafts.
He served as the Marion Recreation Director from 1974 until his death in 2007. Under Deaton’s 33-year span of leadership, the longest in the history to date, the department has grown to include one of the largest soccer programs in the area (now incorporated and run as a separate entity), a large and successful extension of the baseball and softball programs, the creation and implementation of Swamp Fox Track and Field, and an outstanding youth basketball program. The Marion youth football program, long sought after in the Marion area was another program initiated by Deaton with active citizen participation.
Deaton’s greatest legacy may be his ability to involve citizen activists to the point that they take total control of the programs— finance, supervise, and eventually incorporate the programs, such as the soccer and baseball-softball programs.
Jill Deaton feels that her father Wes’s greatest contributions include “… his longevity, reliability, personal involvement with all programs, and creativity.” Deaton was an advocate for Marion youth, and his legacy is the quality of life his programs provide daily.
Wes Deaton, 69, passed away at 7:52 AM, Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at his home at 3307 W. Lakeview Road in west Marion.
Marion has lost one its biggest supporters of youth recreation, Wes Deaton. “I knew Wes when he was a teacher at the high school, and later we were on the baseball board together.” Marion Fire Chief Anthony Rinella said. “He will be remembered for his tireless efforts to youth recreation.”
Deaton, who served as Marion Recreation Director since 1974, took the reins of the position from one of his best friends, former John A. Logan College President Ray Hancock, who had served as Recreation Director from 1962 to 1974.
The friendship between Deaton and Hancock spanned more than 60 years.
“I moved here in the third grade.” Hancock said, “and he moved here in the fourth grade.”
According to Hancock, Deaton’s contribution to Marion’s education system is two-fold. Deaton was a teacher for 33 years and was one of two directors for the Cooperative Vocational Education (CVE) program.
“He made a significant contribution to the CVE program,” Hancock said. “He was also instrumental in forming the youth basketball league and the soccer program.”
Hancock credits Deaton with the continued success of Marion youth sports.
One attribute that Hancock and Rinella both say best described Deaton was his intelligence and wit.
“He was an English minor and an extremely good writer and thinker,” Hancock said. “Probably the wittiest person I know. He could take almost any situation and make very timely and appropriate remarks about that situation, and that’s a unique skill.”
Rinella said he will most remember Deaton for his dry sense of humor. “If you were ever depressed, he was one of those guys you would want to be around,” Rinella said. “He could absolutely tear me up with his humor. Wes was just a good guy.”
“As a friend, I will just miss his presence,” Hancock said. “We were so close that we could just anticipate what each other was going to say. I’ll miss him.”
Wes was a very outgoing, intelligent, humorous and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. His life revolved around his family and he was the stable foundation of the family. He had many friends and colleagues and an outstanding sense of humor. Wes had the ability to see the positive side of any situation.
Wes was much loved and will be missed by his children and granddaughter; brother, William Charles Deaton; nephews, Steven and Jeffery Deaton; sisters-in-law, Kathy (Clarida) Nance and Rudy (Clarida) Danley; and nieces, Tamara and Tanille McAnelly.
Wes was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and a nephew, Jay McAnelly.
Funeral services were held at 11 A.M. Saturday, January 20, 2007, at Blue Funeral Home in Marion with the Rev. David Hancock officiating. Dr. Ray Hancock gave the eulogy. Visitation was from 5 to 8 P.M. Friday, Jan. 19, 2007, at the funeral home.
Burial was at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Marion. Military Rites were conducted by Marion VFW Post No. 1301, American Legion No. 147, and the National Guard.
(Data extracted from Marion Daily Republican articles dated January 17 and 19, 2007; an article written by Ray Hancock, published in Marion Living Magazine, February 2008; Marion High School Memory Kits; Marion City Directories; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 10/11/2013)