Jim was born in Albany, NY and lived most of his life in North Ridgeville, Ohio, where he graduated from high school. He then joined the Navy and served four years during the Vietnam War. After vacationing in SC, he relocated and became an employee of Lexington County Sheriff’s Department where he retired as a criminal investigator after 25 years. He was a security guard at Three Fountains Skating Rink in West Columbia when off duty and loved by hundreds of children through the years. Although he lived in SC, the team he loved was Ohio State Buckeyes and he owned tons of memorabilia.
He was the son of the late Arthur J. and Caroline Mahon Markley. He was also predeceased by a brother, Donald (Norm) Markley of Elyria, Ohio.
He is survived by a daughter, Jamie (David) Buckland of Irmo and a son, Chandler Markley of Lexington, along with a sister, Janet (Willard) Jobes of Claysville, PA and a brother, David of Loraine, Ohio. He was Papa Jim to two grandsons, Peyton and Brandon Buckland. Many nieces and nephews and their children enjoyed his visits.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or a charity of one's choice.
