William Samuel ("Bill") Marquis, born October 14, 1946, in Buffalo, NY, went to be with the Lord on April 22, 2018.
Bill was the son of the late Rev. Dr. William H. and Gwendolyn Bevis Marquis. He grew up in Hazelwood, NC, where he was a Boy Scout and member of Hazelwood Presbyterian Church. In his teens, the family moved to Jacksonville, FL, where he graduated from Andrew Jackson High School and Florida Junior College at Jacksonville. In Jacksonville, he married his wife, Margaret Stradley, on July 25, 1969.
Bill and Margaret moved to Montreat, NC, and later to Black Mountain, NC, where he was active in church work and with the Boy Scouts. He worked for several companies in the area and then earned a BS in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. He served as a District Executive for Boy Scouts of America. He was active in the Black Mountain-Swannanoa Kiwanis Club and in church activities.
Bill was always interested in outdoor activities (hiking and camping) and during the Bicentennial of the American Revolution, he became a living history reenactor, joining the North Carolina Highland Regiment. Over a period of more than 30 years, he demonstrated military skills and period woodworking and taught in classes from the elementary through college levels. He worked as a movie extra, armorer, and/or props specialist on sixteen films, including Last of the Mohicans.
In 2008, he and Margaret moved to Ocoee, FL. He served as secretary and then president of the West Orange Kiwanis Club. He was an active elder at Ocoee Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
He is survived by his wife of almost 49 years, Rev. Margaret Stradley Marquis. He is also survived by two brothers-in-law, Donald Stradley (Lynne) and David Stradley (Sharon), nephews and nieces, many cousins, and a host of friends.
Memorial gifts may be made to Ocoee Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) [PO Box 128, Ocoee, FL 34761] and Christmount Conference Center (22 Fern Way, Black Mountain, NC 28711].
A service of witness to the Resurrection and in remembrance of Bill will be held at Ocoee Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on May 5 at 3 p.m. [15 S. Bluford Ave., Ocoee, FL 34761]