Willie Marion Jr.

Willie was born on February 22, 1936 to Willie Sr. and Beatrice Marion, of Nettleton, Mississippi.

He met his soul-mate, Corrine Merritt at church. They were married on July 15, 1956 in Monroe County, Mississippi. This July would have been their 65th wedding anniversary.

Willie graduated from Nettleton High School and served in the US Army as an AAA Gun Crewman from 1956 – 1958 in Fairbanks, Alaska and Fort Lewis, Washington. After an honorable discharge from the Army, he worked a foundry job in Tacoma, Washington and joined the Molders Union. Willie moved his family to Portland, Oregon in 1966 and accepted employment with the Oregon Steel Foundry – Local 139. In 1977 Willie was elected Union Representative for GMP Local 139. And was the first African American elected to that position. There have been several newspaper articles regarding his union work and over the next 15 years Willie earned the respect of his peers and was re-elected year after year until he retired in 2001.

While living in Portland Willie was very active in the community as a volunteer coach at Peninsula Park Little League, an Umpire for Western Regional Big League Baseball (Oregon State Umpire Association) and as a referee for Portland high school basketball. He also loved fishing with his sons and stayed connected to the community through his membership with the NAACP and the National Association of Black Veterans.

Willie worked in the Church for many years as a faithful usher at the Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church. He will be missed by family and friends.

In honor of Willie Marion Jr. please make all donations to the American Heart Association at heart.org or 1.800.242.8721

He leaves to cling to his memory his wife Corrine, 2 daughters, Pamela – Oregon City, OR, Deborah – Vancouver, WA. 4 sons, Michael Marion Sr. – WA, Jeffrey – Portland, OR, Gerald – Vancouver, WA, Ramon – Albany, OR, a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Willie’s surviving sisters, Eva Conklin – Tacoma, WA, Barbara Vilhauer – Nettleton, MS, Janice Marion – Nettleton, MS. Peggy Rogers (deceased), Verleene Marion (deceased) brother, Archie Marion (deceased), parents Willie Sr. and Beatrice Marion (deceased).

Expression of Appreciation

We would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the kindness and prayers that were extended to him during his illness. Thank you also for the kind and thoughtful deeds that have been extended to our family upon his passing.

God bless you all.

The Marion Family