Herbert R. Ashley, honored many times in Marion for his work with youth, was pronounced dead on arrival at Marion Memorial Hospital at 4:05 a.m. on August 25, 1971 after a heart attack.
Mr. Ashley, 71, of 304 S. Third St. was a Boy Scout leader for more than 40 years. He received the Silver Beaver award in 1945, the highest award to a scout leader. He also received the Scoutmasters Key and 40 year scout pin.
The Marion Park District Board in 1967 named a park in the southeast section of the city after him (Ashley Park).
Marion businessmen raised $2,120 to build a chapel at a Scout camp at Little Grassy Lake. It was dedicated to Mr. Ashley. A bronze inscription on the chapel reads, “From grateful friends in Marion as a memorial to Herbert Ashely. His influence for good on the boys of Egypt will always be remembered.”
The Marion Rotary Club in 1953 made him an honorary member and citizens of Marion that year presented him a gold statuette and plaque for 30 years of service.
Mr. Ashley never had the opportunity to be a Scout himself. He lived from 1909 to 1915 in an orphanage. He was the first person from La Grange to volunteer for service in World War I as a youngster just out of the orphanage.
He took over the Scout troop at the Marion First Christian Church February 24, 1924. More than 500 boys learned love of country, respect for the flag and responsibility to the community from him.
Six of his scouts, including Dr. James Felts and Mayor Robert Butler, earned Eagle Scout awards, the highest in Scouting. His Scouts directed traffic and parked cars at public events and Easter services at Bald Knob, cleaned cemeteries and helped in rescues.
Mr. Ashley was born in Mt. Vernon October 7, 1899, a son of George and Rena Myers Ashley. He married Venita Harrelson in Mt. Vernon August 30, 1924. He was retired manager of the E. Blankenship Co. of the Marion store.
Mr. Ashley was chairman of the Williamson County Selective Service Board on which he had served since it was organized.
He was an elder and taught Sunday school in the junior department at the First Christian Church.
Mr. Ashley was a member of Williamson Post of the American Legion and Fellowship Masonic Lodge.
He is survived by his wife; sons, Herbert Maurice of Kansas City, Mo. and Randal of Wheeling; brother, James of Sparta; sisters, Mrs. Sarah Nyline of Hinckley, Minn. and Mrs. Marie Bowers of Clinton and five grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in the Mitchell Funeral Home of Marion. The Rev. Bruce Patton and the Rev. C.R. Walker will officiate. Burial will be in Antioch Cemetery in Hamilton County.
(Source: Southern Illinoisan, by O.R. Walley, August 25, 1971)