Cecil Thomas Corley

Cecil Thomas Corley (affectionately known as “The Chief”) passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 11 at his son’s home in Pensacola, FL. Born in Experiment, Georgia, July 8, 1916 to Hosea Daniel Corley and Katherine Tarpley Corley, Cecil was one of eight children: brothers Junior, Roy, Claudie, Melvin, Edward, and Jack Corley and sister Imogene (Corley) Murphy. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1934. His naval career began in the “Black Shoe Navy,” serving on destroyers at sea from China and the Far East to convoy duty in the North Atlantic during World War II. He remained in the Navy after the conclusion of WWII, having risen to the rating of Leading Chief (Master Chief). While stationed at Pensacola NAS, he visited Elba, AL, the home of his friend Phil English. There he met and eventually married Totyse Mae Bryan in December, 1945. He and Totyse enjoyed being stationed at CocaSola Naval Station in the Panama Canal Zone and Barber’s Point in Hawaii as well as Whiting Field NAS near Milton, FL. He also served in Midway and San Diego before his retirement from naval service in 1958, after 24 years of active duty.

After his military service, Totyse and he returned to Elba, AL, where they would live the rest of their lives. Utilizing his mechanical skills, Chief returned to his military environment by taking a position as a sheet metalsmith at Ft. Rucker AL until his second retirement in 1981. One of his great joys was the fish pond he built on the land he and Totyse purchased in 1961. He was known all around South Alabama for his generous nature. He shared his land and fish pond with many, many friends and acquaintances over the years. He was an amazing individual who lived a long and full life. He provided his sons with a wonderful example of how to be a man. He was an honest and trustworthy man who valued his word as his bond.

Chief leaves behind two sons, Brian Thomas (Dianne) and Robert Wayne (Tracie) who both reside in Pensacola, FL. He is also survived by four grandchildren; Valisa (Chad) Ross of Highland, IL; David Corley of Durham, NC; Tracy (Joe) Eline of Pace, FL, and Taylor Corley of Pensacola, as well as six great grandchildren.

While his body weakened as he passed the age of 98, his mind remained sharp, and he never lost his awareness of his surroundings and his easy and caring disposition towards others. There will never be another “Chief” for all those he leaves behind. We all wish him “fair winds and following seas” on his next journey.

In lieu of flowers, donations to honor the Chief may be made to the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society (nmcrs.org).