Funeral service for COL (Retired) Marshall Ray McRee, of Oviedo, Fla., will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 18, 2018 in the New Post Chapel, Fort Sill.
Burial with full military honors will follow in Post Cemetery, Fort Sill, under direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.
COL (Retired) Marshall Ray McRee, age 80, died December 11, 2018 in Oviedo, Florida. He was born November 28, 1938 in Catawba County, North Carolina.
As a young man Marshall earned his Eagle Scout with Palms and graduated from Newton – Conover High School Class of 1957 in North Carolina. Marshall excelled in football and baseball and was awarded a scholarship to attend The Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina, where he graduated with the class of 1961 and played football for The Bulldogs. He had the good fortune of becoming a lifelong friend of fellow “Newtonian” Jim (Bull) Newsome who coached Marshall at The Citadel. On June 23, 1962 he married Patricia Sutherlin his bride of 56 years. He achieved his Masters in Counseling from the University of Central Arkansas in 1972.
Upon graduation, Marshall was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Army Field Artillery.
His assignments included: 1962-1964-Fort Rucker AL. Deployed in support of the Cuban Missile Crisis, 1964-1965-Assigned to Fort Hood TX, 1st Armored Division, 1965-1966- Service in Vietnam as Advisor to Vietnamese forces, 1966-1968-Successive assignments to Fort Sill OK; Fort Bliss, TX; and Fort Carson, CO, 1968-1969- Deployed for 2nd tour in Vietnam with 1st Brigade 5th Mechanized Infantry Division and 3rd Marine Division, 1969-1972-Successive assignments to Fort Sill, OK; Fort Leavenworth, KS to attend the Army Command and Staff College; and a follow-on assignment to Graduate School, earning a MS Degree, 1972-1974-Assignment to Fort Benning, GA as instructor at the U. S. Army Infantry School, 1974-1977-Served on the Department of the Army Staff, the Pentagon, 1977-1980-Germany assignments included Battalion Commander (2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery) and service on the U. S. Army Europe Staff, 1980-1981-Selected for attendance at the U. S. Army War College, 1981-1985- Successive assignments as Chief of Staff III Corps Artillery; and Commander, 214th Field Artillery Brigade, the largest Brigade sized unit in the Free World (5,600 Soldiers). 1985-1988-Served in successive positions as Assistant Chief of Staff, and DCSLOG 4th U. S. Army: and Commander, Fort Sheridan, IL, 1988-1992-At Fort Sill OK served in successive positions as Deputy Assistant Commandant and Assistant Commandant of the U. S. Army Field Artillery School; and Chief of Staff, U. S. Army Field Artillery Center and Fort Sill.
Colonel McRee served in the U.S. Army for more than 28 years. He was a veteran of Vietnam and his awards include the Army Achievement Medal, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, national Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Vietnam Service Medal with one Silver Service Star and one Bronze Service Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation and the Distinguished Service Medal. He retired at Fort Sill on August 31, 1992 where he served as Chief of Staff.
Following his retirement from the Army, Marshall and Pat moved to Florida where they built, yet another, amazing circle of friends. Marshall continued to work as a defense contractor for Nations until he fully retired in the spring of 2010. In recent years, Marshall and Pat have relished time with family and friends while still tirelessly serving the broader community. He was a member of the Melbourne Church of Christ
He enjoyed FUN! Family times, football, fishing, gardening, the coast, and of course, listening to Country music.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years Patricia Sutherlin McRee; two daughters, Tracy McRee Wellington and Stephanie McRee Williams; two sons-in-law, Jim Wellington and Brandon Williams; four precious grandchildren, Hailey Williams, Benjamin Wellington, Nathaniel Wellington and Marshall Williams, as well as, countless others who cherish him and whom he loved deeply.
He was preceded in death by his father, Hubert Leroy McRee of Newton, North Carolina and two dear sisters Johnny McRee Wilson and Deanna McRee Davis.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warriors Project, Mount Dora Children’s Home, American Heart Association and Children’s Cancer Research
Posted in: Becker Funeral Home
Posted on: 2018-12-18
Link to original obituary: http://www.beckerfuneral.com/obituary/col-retired-marshall-mcree