Funeral Services for Marion (Choc) Wetzel will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday July 23, 2010 at the First Baptist Church in Brownwood with Jimmy Mize officiating. Interment will follow in the Zephyr Cemetery under the direction of Davis Morris Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 6:30-8:30 pm Thursday evening at the funeral home.
Marion Lafayette (Choc) Wetzel was born June 27, 1917, in Comanche County, Texas, to Henry Sumner Wetzel and Armentia Tennie (Renfroe) Wetzel. Choc attended several schools in Comanche County and graduated from Comanche High School in 1937. He entered Daniel Baker College in Brownwood in 1939 and graduated in 1943. He married Dorothy Nell Baker from Zephyr, also a Daniel Baker graduate, April 29, 1944.
In the fall of 1944, Choc joined the Brownwood Independent School District teaching math, physical education, and coaching 7th grade boys and girls sports for 16 years at Central Elementary. He attended Hardin Simmons University and earned a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education in 1950.
In 1960, Choc was named as Principal of Coggin Elementary in Brownwood and served in that capacity until he retired after 19 years in 1979. He served as Vice-President of the District XV Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors in 1965. He was very thankful and pleased to have served the Brownwood ISD for 35 years.
Serving as a football and basketball official for 18 years in Brownwood and a wide area surrounding Brownwood before he became Principal, Choc made many friends. As he retired from the Brownwood ISD, Choc joined the well known Brown County Sheriff’s Posse for 20 years and rode in parades and rodeos all over Texas until 1999.
Wetzel joined the First Baptist Church in Brownwood in 1944, and was ordained as a deacon in 1948. He served in many capacities- Chairman of the Deacons, President of the Brotherhood, Boy Scout Master, R.A. Leader, Sunday School Department Director and Teacher-but will probably be best remembered as an usher and greeter for 30 years.
He served 1970-71 as President of the Daniel Baker Ex-Students Association and received the Daniel Baker Distinguished Alumni Award in 1985. He was active in the Brown County Retired Teachers for many years.
Choc loved all sports, attended Brownwood and Howard Payne athletic events, loved being outside and spent most of his retired life caring for livestock, especially horses, on places that he and his son have on the Zephyr highway. He loved to visit with people and had a special love for children.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Addie Mae Kanady, and by his wife Dorothy, in 1984. He is survived by his son, Grayson, and his wife Charlotte, of Goldthwaite; a daughter, Kristi and husband Jerry Nelson of Brownwood; grandsons: David Wetzel and Shana of San Antonio, Brian Nelson and Kim of Zephyr, and Blake Nelson and Melissa of Longview; Great grandchildren, Garren, Skyler, and Chase Wetzel of San Antonio, Maile and Macie Nelson of Longview; sisters-in-law, Wanda Johnson of Odessa and Joyce Baker of Denton; several nieces and nephews; a cousin, Margo Brito of Pflugerville; the Drs. Rance and Carol Boren family; Dr. David Morales and family who became a part of the Wetzel family and provided loving guidance and care; and the special extended family at CARE, Inc.
Memorials may be made to the Building Fund of First Baptist Church, 208 Austin Avenue, Brownwood, Tx 76801, Lighthouse Hospice, or the organization of choice.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.davismorrisfuneralhome.com
Davis Morris Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.