Marion Laverne Lewark

Marion Laverne Lewark, 86, of Aledo was received by her heavenly Father, early Sunday morning, May 21, 2017, at her home.
Marion was born in Benjamin, Texas in 1930 to Fred and Annie Lee Headrick. She was the oldest of 7 children. In a book of family history, she wrote: “I was a Depression baby and for about 15 years, Daddy had trouble getting a job that he could support us on.” They lived in Seymour in Baylor County, Guthrie, Oklahoma, and then back to Seymour. They even moved to Ocean Park, CA where her Dad worked for McDonald Douglas Aircraft Company. Marion remembered traveling to California by Travelers Bureau. This meant they paid a man who was already going to CA to let the 5 of them ride in the backseat of his car. About 6 months later they returned to Texas in a Model A car her dad had bought.

By high school, Marion was living in Holliday, Texas. Her senior year, she moved to Fort Worth to live with her Aunt. Although she loved living in the city, she moved back to Holliday around the first of the year and graduated from Holliday High School in 1949.

After high school, she moved back to Fort Worth where she worked at the Renfro Drug Store as a soda jerk. It was here that she met her future husband, Ben Lewark. She had promised her friend Ethel that she would double date with Ethel and her boyfriend. She met Ben, who was just out of the Air Force, in July of 1949. It wasn’t love at first sight, but he won her over and about 8 months later, Ben and Marion married on March 18, 1950. Eleven months later, their first child Connie was born. Then Paula, Eddie and Terri followed in the next 6 years. Marion had her hands full as a stay-at-home mom for a few years. Later, she began working at what was then called General Dynamics. She also worked at Texas Farm Bureau, and then returned to General Dynamics (later called Lockheed) where she retired in 1993 with more than 21 years of service.

Ben and Marion raised their family, for the most part, in White Settlement, Texas. Later they moved to Weatherford, TX for a couple of years, and then in 1974, they moved to Aledo where she resided until her death.

While in Weatherford, she and Ben were very involved in the North Texas High School Rodeo Association. She sponsored the Weatherford High School Rodeo Team for 8 years and served on the NTHSRA Board of Directors for 9 years. One of her passions was raising horses. She loved watching the colts, riding, and caring for her horses.
Marion’s greatest joy was her family. She loved spending time with her children, grand-children and great-grandchildren! When she couldn’t be with them, she took time to call, send letters and cards, and surprise them with special packages of items she thought each would enjoy. She cherished time with her family and never missed an opportunity to get them together whenever she could.

Marion was preceded in death by her brother, Sam Headrick, her son-in-law, Nathan Shockey, and her granddaughter Lori Wright Bastas. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Ben Lewark of Aledo, TX; by her siblings: James Headrick and Martha Headrick Gandee of Mesquite, TX; Mae Headrick Shaw of Huckabay, TX; Ben Headrick of White Settlement, TX, Carol Headrick Radcliffe of Portland, OR; by her children: Connie & John Wright of Grand Prairie, TX; Paula & Gordon Shockey-Vess of White Settlement, TX; Eddie & Melody Lewark of Weatherford, TX; Terri & Ronny Collins of Mineral Wells, TX; by her grandchildren: Kristi Shockey Stewart, Danny & Christie Shockey, Heather & Jason Davis, Courtnee & Jeff Birdwell, Shawn Lewark, Cassie & Don Paul Payton, Brad & Kandace Collins, Todd and Amy Collins; by her great-grandchildren: Justen Bastas, Nathan & Eli Stewart, Blake & Zach Shockey, Avery & Olivia Davis, Halle Brady, Layla & Fisher Birdwell, John, Amberlynn & Xoe Lewark, Wyatt, Dylan & Jackson Payton, Carter, Codi, & Kenna Collins, Tred, Cy, and Adelyn Collins, by her great-great-grandchild: Brantlee Bastas.