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Marion Stanley Obituary
Marion Edward Stanley, a devoted husband, father and friend-to-many and a long-time resident of King City, went to be with the Lord Sunday, October 19, 2025 at Mee Memorial Hospital. He was 93.
Marion was born November 1, 1931. He was one of 12 children born to Brooks and Velma Stanley who raised him on the family ranch in New Raymer, Colorado. He attended local schools and graduated from New Raymer High School in 1950. During his college school years he was a member of the Colorado State Rodeo team of 1954. This was the National Champion Team that year and Marion rode in rough stock events including bull riding, saddle bronc and bareback riding.
Education was important to Marion. He attended the University of Colorado in Ft. Collins to earn a bachelor's degree in livestock management. He went to Wyoming State for his master's degree and to Oklahoma State for his doctorate. He spent 18 months in the U.S. Army and got medical technician training. Later he did student teaching at Pullman State University in Washington.
On June 7, 1964 he married Viola Frahm in Washington and promptly moved to King City, California, where he began his 31-year career as an animal scientist for the University of California Cooperative extension. The couple had four children: Tom, Bill, Doug and Gwen.
Marion's hobbies included coin collecting, raising livestock and working with the Rare Breed Conservancy on rescue and recovery programs as well as volunteering his time at fairs. Nearly every year, he took his family back to Colorado to the place where his ancestors were homesteaders on property that is still in the family.
During his working career, Marion traveled to all parts of Monterey County assisting farmers and ranchers. He also found time for two sabbaticals, one in Scotland in 1970 and another in New Zealand in 1979 where he was able to do advanced study with sheep and cattle.
A big part of Marion's life was the ranch home that he and Vi purchased in upper Pine Canyon in 1982. It was here he finished raising his family, had space for livestock and was able to enjoy being outdoors.
During his life, Marion supported many organizations. He was a member of the Silver Kings and Queens, the Monterey County Cattlemen's Association, the Dairy Herd Improvement Association and he was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. For years he ran the carcass contest for the Salinas Valley Fair in King City where he was a volunteer and worked with 4-H and FFA students.
Marion was a man devoted to his faith. He and Vi were 60-year members of Grace Lutheran Church in King City. He served on the church council, attended Sunday services regularly and was valued for his ability to read Scripture during worship services. Because he believed strongly that the words of the Bible could help people in their lives, he was for 54 years affiliated with Gideons International, a group that distributes Bibles throughout the world. In his retirement years, his faith led him to support the Community Food Pantry which included driving to Salinas to pick up food for distribution locally.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Viola, of King City; sons, Bill of Juneau, Alaska and Doug (Heidi Conley) of Coalinga; daughter, Gwen of New Raymer, Colorado; daughter-in-law, Karen Stanley of Tulare. His grandchildren are: Brook Stanley of Texas, Shane Stanley of Coalinga, McKenzie (Justin) Strickland of Coalinga, Riley Stanley of Clovis and Jackson Stanley of Coalinga. He leaves two great-grandchildren: James and Madeline Strickland of Coalinga.
In addition Marion leaves behind five sisters, Edith Schwen, Mary Allred, Mildred Fisher, Carolyn Hughes, Judy Kummer, and a brother Marvin Stanley.
He is preceded in death by his son, Tom; and five siblings: Gilbert Stanley, Roberta Stanley, Bernard Stanley, Dan Stanley and Clayton Stanley.
Services are planned for Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 205 Canal Street in King City. A luncheon is planned at the church after the service. Marion will be cremated and his ashes spread at the family ranch in New Raymer, Colorado.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Marion be made to: Grace Lutheran Church, 205 Canal Street, King City, CA 93930 or The Salinas Valley Fair Heritage Foundation, PO Box 942, King City, CA 93930.
For more information, please contact Eddington Funeral Services, King City, (831) 385-5400, www.EFS-Cares.com .
Marion was born November 1, 1931. He was one of 12 children born to Brooks and Velma Stanley who raised him on the family ranch in New Raymer, Colorado. He attended local schools and graduated from New Raymer High School in 1950. During his college school years he was a member of the Colorado State Rodeo team of 1954. This was the National Champion Team that year and Marion rode in rough stock events including bull riding, saddle bronc and bareback riding.
Education was important to Marion. He attended the University of Colorado in Ft. Collins to earn a bachelor's degree in livestock management. He went to Wyoming State for his master's degree and to Oklahoma State for his doctorate. He spent 18 months in the U.S. Army and got medical technician training. Later he did student teaching at Pullman State University in Washington.
On June 7, 1964 he married Viola Frahm in Washington and promptly moved to King City, California, where he began his 31-year career as an animal scientist for the University of California Cooperative extension. The couple had four children: Tom, Bill, Doug and Gwen.
Marion's hobbies included coin collecting, raising livestock and working with the Rare Breed Conservancy on rescue and recovery programs as well as volunteering his time at fairs. Nearly every year, he took his family back to Colorado to the place where his ancestors were homesteaders on property that is still in the family.
During his working career, Marion traveled to all parts of Monterey County assisting farmers and ranchers. He also found time for two sabbaticals, one in Scotland in 1970 and another in New Zealand in 1979 where he was able to do advanced study with sheep and cattle.
A big part of Marion's life was the ranch home that he and Vi purchased in upper Pine Canyon in 1982. It was here he finished raising his family, had space for livestock and was able to enjoy being outdoors.
During his life, Marion supported many organizations. He was a member of the Silver Kings and Queens, the Monterey County Cattlemen's Association, the Dairy Herd Improvement Association and he was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. For years he ran the carcass contest for the Salinas Valley Fair in King City where he was a volunteer and worked with 4-H and FFA students.
Marion was a man devoted to his faith. He and Vi were 60-year members of Grace Lutheran Church in King City. He served on the church council, attended Sunday services regularly and was valued for his ability to read Scripture during worship services. Because he believed strongly that the words of the Bible could help people in their lives, he was for 54 years affiliated with Gideons International, a group that distributes Bibles throughout the world. In his retirement years, his faith led him to support the Community Food Pantry which included driving to Salinas to pick up food for distribution locally.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Viola, of King City; sons, Bill of Juneau, Alaska and Doug (Heidi Conley) of Coalinga; daughter, Gwen of New Raymer, Colorado; daughter-in-law, Karen Stanley of Tulare. His grandchildren are: Brook Stanley of Texas, Shane Stanley of Coalinga, McKenzie (Justin) Strickland of Coalinga, Riley Stanley of Clovis and Jackson Stanley of Coalinga. He leaves two great-grandchildren: James and Madeline Strickland of Coalinga.
In addition Marion leaves behind five sisters, Edith Schwen, Mary Allred, Mildred Fisher, Carolyn Hughes, Judy Kummer, and a brother Marvin Stanley.
He is preceded in death by his son, Tom; and five siblings: Gilbert Stanley, Roberta Stanley, Bernard Stanley, Dan Stanley and Clayton Stanley.
Services are planned for Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 205 Canal Street in King City. A luncheon is planned at the church after the service. Marion will be cremated and his ashes spread at the family ranch in New Raymer, Colorado.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Marion be made to: Grace Lutheran Church, 205 Canal Street, King City, CA 93930 or The Salinas Valley Fair Heritage Foundation, PO Box 942, King City, CA 93930.
For more information, please contact Eddington Funeral Services, King City, (831) 385-5400, www.EFS-Cares.com .
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by King City Rustler from Oct. 29 to Nov. 21, 2025.
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