Technician Four Marion Everett Neel, Sr.
United States Army, World War II
Purple Heart Recipient
January 24, 2024 - Marion Everett was the second child of five born to Nora Bowlin and William Horace Neel. He entered this world on Sunday, January 9th, 1921, in the far east Texas town of Timpson, Shelby County. His siblings were Chester Allen (1919), Elnora (1922), Marie (1923), and Loyce Victoria (1926). By age nine, the family had moved to the nearby town of Joaquin where they resided at 53 Bell Street, and their father was employed as a salesman for an oil company. They were fortunate enough to own their home as the “great depression” that would last for the next decade was well underway.
Marion and his siblings attended the local schools and he graduated from Joaquin High School on May 21st, 1939. It seems that he had a photostatic mind and could spell words backward faster than most could forward, according to an article that appeared in the June 30th, 1939 edition of The Eagle (Bryan, Texas). It also noted that even with this ability he did not graduate at the top of his high school class and his friends were seeking a scholarship for him. His name did appear in the 1942 Texas A&M yearbook as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, but graduation could not be confirmed.
Following Marion’s high school graduation he worked as a receiving clerk at an auto supply company. At the age of 20, he and Miss Gaye Leggett were married at the Joaquin Presbyterian Church on July 3rd, 1941 with Rev. W. E. Everhardt of New Orleans officiating. Following the reception at his parent’s home, the newlyweds left for Orange, Texas where Marion was employed by the Consolidated Steel Corporation, and they made their home at 104 Morell Boulevard.
Five months later following Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Congress amended the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 to require all able-bodied men ages 18 to 64 to register with their local draft board for military service. On February 16th, 1942, shortly after his 21st birthday, Marion registered at Local Board # 1 in Orange County, Texas. His registration card (D.S.S. Form 1) showed his employment and address as noted above, and listed his father as the person who would always know his address. Physically he was described as white, five foot, seven inches tall, 144 pounds, gray eyes, brown hair, and with a ruddy complexion.
Two years later on April 26th, 1944 Marion was inducted into the U.S. Army at Camp Wolters, near Mineral Wells, Texas. Camp Wolters was during World War II the largest infantry replacement training center in the United States. Following basic training he entered infantry training and at some point said goodbye to his wife Gaye and family. Where he served overseas is not documented but his veteran headstone on Find a Grave memorial 66320397 reflects his military rank as Technician Four and that he was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received in combat. Following the end of the war on September 2nd, 1945, Marion was honorably discharged on March 8th, 1946.
Marion and Gaye were blessed with three children, Delorus Marie, Marion Everett, Jr., and William Steward. Following the war they resided in Joaquin until 1993 when they moved to College Station, Brazos County, Texas. Marion passed at his home there on January 24, 2003, at the age of 82, and his services were held at the Mangum Funeral Home Chapel in Center, Texas with the Rev. Rick Russell officiating. Burial followed in the Jackson Cemetery, Joaquin, Texas where Gaye joined him in December 2005. They had been married sixty-two years at the time of his death. Day is done, God is nigh.
Bio by: Larry E. Hume, VFW Post 8904, Center, Texas
SOURCES:
(1): Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.
(2): Year: 1930; Census Place: Joaquin, Shelby, Texas; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0010; FHL microfilm: 2342124
(3): The Eagle; Publication Date: 30/ Jun/ 1939; Publication Place: Bryan, Texas, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/44151029/?article=e23c8c97-c7b4-4084-b284-ce53f194cbc8&xid=4720&terms=Everett_Neel
(4): Year: 1940; Census Place: Joaquin, Shelby, Texas; Roll: m-t0627-04136; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 210-12
(5): Johnson County Clerk's Office; Denton, Texas; Smith County Marriage Records
(6): The Shreveport Journal; Publication Date: 12/ Jul/ 1941; Publication Place: Shreveport, Louisiana, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/600626569/?article=874af477-6b9e-4e67-97d6-07fba86998cc&focus=0.4942211,0.49640077,0.61417884,0.5843683&xid=3398
(7): National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Texas, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 1090
(8): Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
(9): National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 13676; Reel: 133
(10): National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Joaquin, Shelby, Texas; Roll: 1613; Page: 16; Enumeration District: 210-23
(11): The Times; Publication Date: 8 Jun 1987; Publication Place: Shreveport, Louisiana, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/211403234/?article=4057378c-c62b-4955-80e6-1234a0f29dee&focus=0.054677326,0.75404876,0.22542465,0.8425101&xid=3355
(12): Ritch, Nancy. Timpson & Tenaha News (Timpson, Tex.), Vol. 18, No. 05, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 30, 2003, newspaper, January 30, 2003; Timpson, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth773000/: accessed January 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Timpson Public Library.
