W. Marvin Acree

Marietta Monitor

August 22, 1997, page 4

Submitted by: Martha N. Reddout Courtesy of Ray and Mrs. E. Weathers

Services for W. Marvin Acree, 84, were conducted at 10:00 a.m. August 11 in the Epworth United Methodist Church in Chickasha.

Mr. Acree was born October 6, 1912, in Grady, the son of Arch and Zella Aston Acree, and died August 7, 1997, in his home at Chickasha.

Mr. Acree and the former Louise Holcomb were married on August 20, 1933, in Greenville, Texas. They were the parents of a son, Ron Acree, a resident of Paris, Tennessee.

Mr. Acree moved to Chickasha on December 31, 1945, from Blanchard where he was a major stockholder and board chairman of the First National Bank. His career in banking began at age 14 in Ringling. During his long and distinguished banking career he served banks in Ringling, Blanchard, Hennessey, Marietta, Chickasha, Marlow, Wynnewood, Allen and Verden. He owned and operated Marvin Acree Investments in Chickasha for over 40 years where he worked until his death.

By the time he was 21, Mr. Acree had become assistant cashier and a director at the Ringling Bank. In 1935, he was appointed national bank examiner, the youngest person in history to be appointed to that position. He examined banks in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

During more than 70 years in business, Mr. Acree also owned and operated a variety store, automobile agency, insurance agency, funeral home, auto parts store, a ranch and an oil and gas business. He served in and was appointed to leadership positions in numerous local, state and national professional and civic organizations. Prominent among his voluntary work was leadership within the United Methodist Church. The Marvin Acree Memorial United Methodist Church in Ringling exists primarily because of his contributions. The Epworth United Methodist Church in Chickasha has also been recipient of his generous financial support for over 50 years.

Mr. Acree was a member of Lions Club International which he served as district governor. He was also active in Rotary International, the Salvation Army, the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce and the Future Farmers of America which honored him in 1956 with the presitgious Honorary Farmer Degree. Mr. Acree was recipient of the coveted Silver Beaver Award bestowed upon him by the Boy Scouts of America, an organization he served for over 65 years.

A friend and advisor to state and national political figures, Mr. Acree was appointed by former Governor Raymond Gary to the Oklahoma Semi-Centennial Commission and visited the state and national capitols often. He was an especially close friend of Carl Albert, former U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives.

A charter member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, Mr. Acree was also a strong supporter of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

Survivors include a son, Ron Acree of Paris, Tennessee; a sister, Mary Henderson of Norman; two brothers, Winston Acree of Norman and Archie Acree of Universal City, Texas; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Mr. Acree was preceded in death by his wife on August 18, 1974; his parents, two brothers and two sisters.

Interment was in Chickasha's Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Brown-Binyon Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Mr. Acree to one's favorite charity.