Joeseph H. Marquis
Family and friends are mourning the loss of longtime Spaulding and Holdenville resident Joseph H. Marquis, who died at age 83 on Sunday, September 13 th , 2020, at his home after a long illness.
Joe was born in Purcell, Oklahoma, on August 29, 1937 to Henry and Lucy (Loeffelholz) Marquis. He was raised in Norman, where he attended and graduated from St. Joseph School. He came from a devout Catholic family that was deeply involved in parish life. He served as an Altar Boy during his youth at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Norman.
After graduation, he met and fell in love with Evelyn Ann Grizzle, and followed her family to California, where they married in 1960. They were happily married for 37 years. They had two children, William in 1962 and Susan in 1964. Evelyn’s death was in 1997.
During the early years of his marriage he served in the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of Sergeant, serving as Assistant Adjutant under Major Ronald Bradlor at Fitzsimmons Hospital in Denver, Colorado.
After his discharge from the Army, Joe worked in the grocery business, managing several large stores for Southern California Foods. He and Evelyn were both member of the Retail Clerks Local Union.
In 1973 they moved back to Oklahoma to be closer to family. Joe worked as a Letter Carrier at the Holdenville Post Office until his retirement.
Following the death of his wife Evelyn, Joe met and married Kathy White of Holdenville, Joe and Kathy shared four years traveling, hosting square dancing event and promoting square dancing in the community, while holding classes at the facility they built at their home. They enjoyed the journey they shared.
Later, he met and married Lynn Minor, with whom he enjoyed 13 years of memory making. Joe and Lynn loved traveling together going to New York and San Antonio on two separate occasions. He loved going to square dances so much that one night while traveling to Ardmore, he was busy talking and went around a curve about the time a Highway Patrol came down the curve and flagged him. Joe got out in his square dance outfit, complete with beads for his tie and the highway patrolman just gave him a warning. He was only doing 84 in a 65. He always had a unique way of getting out of a ticket...I guess the beads did it! He loved going to dances and making friends with other square dancers throughout the state. Joe had a tendency to get lost in his travels, but he never lost sight of his bride.
Joe was a family man, who took amazing care of his wife and children. He had a strong work ethic and very rarely missed a day of work. As they say, neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. He lived his life by the Mailman’s Motto. He enjoyed watching sports on TV, reading western and detective novels, loved tilling the garden, mowing the yard, washing and detailing the family vehicles. He had an enormous sweet-tooth and would rather give you money out of his wallet than give you a piece of his candy. He was a member of the Young Farmers chapter. He served as Spaulding’s Volunteer Fire Chief. He was willing to help anyone who asked always leading a helping hand in times of need. He loved spending time with his friends, especially if car shows were involved.
He was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Lucy (Loeffelholz) Marquis; his wife Evelyn (Grizzle); wife Kathy (White) Marquis; brother Jerome Marquis; in-laws Joe and Oletha (Sexton) Grizzle; brother-in-law Clinton Lee Grizzle and sister-in-law Gerrie Grizzle; and brother-in-law, Bill Brantley.
Joe is survived by his wife Lynn Marquis of the home; son William of Holdenville; daughters Suzan of Francis, Michelle (Buddy) Hunt of Tahlequah, Tracy (Rick) Embrey of Edmond, and Cindy Minor of Oklahoma City; and Pastor Christy (Mark) Clark.
He also leaves his grandchildren Heather Messinger (Derek) of Allen, Trever Blanco (Rebecca) of Francis, and Brandon Blanco (Tessa), of Francis, Conrad Clark of Walter, Matthew Myers and Madison Myers of Edmond; great-grandchildren Caleb and Hailey Messinger of Allen, and Aemon Blanco and Ruby Blanco, of Francis; sister Mary Ann Grega of Northville, New York; brother-in-law Joe Grizzle and wife Rae Marie of Spaulding; sisters-in-law Charlene Thompson and husband Keith of Tahlequah, Phyllis Brantley and brother-in-law Wes Brantley; and many nieces and nephews; as well as family friends Michael Hassell, Kay Lehman of Oklahoma City, and Doyle Bane of Holdenville.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM today, Thursday, September 17 th , in the Hudson Phillips Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. David Daniel officiating. Interment will follow at Holdenville Cemetery with Pastor Christy Clark officiating.
Services are under the direction of Hudson-Phillips Funeral Home in Holdenville, Oklahoma.