Marion Wesley King

Marion Wesley King was born in Houston on January 17, 1895, the son of William and Julia Harwell King, both native Houstonians. He was educated in the Houston public schools and married Mady Lacy, also a native of Houston, on October 26, 1916. He operated a funeral home for many years, retiring in 1960. He was a charter member and president of the Kiwanis Club of Greater North Houston and was active in civic improvement on the Northside. His interests were reading, politics and automobile travel.

He received his degrees in Gray Lodge in 1919: the Entered Apprentice on May 23, the Fellowcraft on July 7, and the Master Mason degree on November 22. He served as Junior and Senior Steward and Senior Deacon, was elected Junior Warden for 1924–1925, and then served as Senior Warden. Past Master Norman Atkinson installed him as the 55th Master in 1926, with Past Master Horace L. Walling as Marshal.

A dedicated ritualist, Worshipful Master King was formally thanked by the class in ritual work for his efforts with them, and in 1946 he received a lifetime certificate of proficiency. During his year the lodge received a jewel presented in 1869 to Past Grand Master Peter W. Gray. (The lodge is in fact named for Col. William Fairfax Gray; the history notes that the belief it honored Peter W. Gray arose only after the last charter member died in 1913.) The lodge named a committee to care for its growing collection of Masonic relics. Past Masters Walling and Vollus had the fading portraits of the Past Masters retouched and reframed in two frames of twenty each; Brother Calvin Wheat did the work without charge.

On March 4, 1927, J. W. Bush was raised as the 1,500th Master Mason of Gray Lodge. The lodge supported a Grand Lodge proposal to set aside part of every degree fee for a charity fund for tubercular Masons, sent $100 to flood sufferers in the Mississippi Valley, and held a Washington Observance with music and addresses on Washington’s life and ideals.

He was made a Royal Arch Mason in Will N. Kidd Chapter No. 424 in 1925, was a member of San Jacinto Council No. 347, R.&S.M., and was a Past Patron of Ransford Chapter No. 135, Order of the Eastern Star.