John Marshall Storey passed away Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015.
He was born June 25,1923, in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Dr. C.H. and Willie Storey. His early years were spent in Corpus Christi,Texas, and he later moved with his family to Wilmington.He graduated high school from Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Va. He attended Texas A and M, in College Station, Texas, and Davidson College, in Davidson.
After college, he joined the U.S Navy and served in World War II. In 1946, he met the love of his life, Jean Chester, at Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen. They were married on Nov. 15, 1946, at the church. They lived in Hamlet, Rockingham, and Atlanta, Ga., before settling in Corpus Christi in 1965, with their two daughters and one son. John was a devoted husband and father. He worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. for more than 35 years. He loved to read. He loved reading the Bible and teaching about the Bible with many people. He was also an avid reader of Westerns and loved to take trips to places he had read about in his books.
He and his late wife were avid gardeners, which everyone could see by their beautiful yard. His favorite flower was the rose, and he had many rose beds in the yard for which he cared. He loved having the fragrance of roses in the house. For many years he was a member of the Corpus Christi Rose Society. He and his late wife, Jean, were longtime members of the Reveler’s and Carousel dance clubs He was a member and teacher of the All Read Bible Sunday School class at First Christian Church in Corpus Christi. John volunteered on Friday afternoons at the church He would have “Tea at 3” while volunteering and members of the church would come by and visit.
John was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years Jean Chester Storey; parents, Dr. and Mrs. Charlton Storey; his brothers Milton Storey and Charlton Storey Jr.; and his son-in-law, Robert L. Sutphen Sr. He is survived by his daughter, Marsha Graham and husband, David, of Fuquay-Varina; son Milton P. Storey and wife; Lourdes; of Corpus Christi, Texas; and daughter, Mary Lynn Sutphen, of Pinehurst; his grandchildren, Garrett Graham, of Corpus Christi,Texas, Katy Graham, of Raleigh, Susan Graham, of Greenville, S.C., Gabriella Storey, of Corpus Christi, Texas, Matt Storey, of Corpus Christi, Texas, Luke Sutphen, of Pinehurst, and Emily Sutphen Bean and husband, Michael, of Pinehurst; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held this spring for both John and Jean Storey at Bethesda Cemetery.