Marion Schilling

A memorial service for Marion Lee Shilling, 75, of Tyler will be held on Friday, November 4, 2011 at 1:00 PM at First Christian Church in Tyler. Dr. Chris Pulliam and Rev. Kayla Coffee-Prose will officiate. Services are under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mr. Shilling passed away on Monday, October 31, 2011 in Tyler. â??Bookieâ?? Shilling was born on November 15, 1935 in Oak Grove, Louisiana to O. C. and Grace McCloskey Shilling. â??Bookieâ?? graduated from Bolton High School in Alexandria, LA and eager to serve his country, he joined the United States Marine Corp. He later attended Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA graduating with a Masters degree in Business and Accounting. Bookie held various positions with the IRS and Tenneco before accepting a position in 1967 with Eugene Jeffers, CPA in Tyler. In the early 70â??s, Jeffers and Shilling joined in partnership with Robert Arms. After 44 years as a CPA, Bookie retired from the firm now known as Arms, Shilling and Pye, CPAâ??s and along with his wife opened a cooking school, Letâ??s Cook!, in September of this year. In 1976, Marion â??Bookieâ?? married Gay Markowitz Shilling and he began his next career as the father of three â??already bloomedâ?? children, Mark, Derek and Leslee. He considered this his greatest accomplishment and reward in life. Bookie has been a member of First Christian Church since 1975 and served in the church over the years as board member, treasurer, chair of evangelism and treasurer of the Menâ??s Dialogue Breakfast. Bookie also sponsored the youth programs, Junior Fellowship and Chi Rho. He served as a deacon and elder and was humbled in recent years at being named â??Elder Emeritusâ??. In his professional career, Mr. Shilling was an active member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. He led numerous society committees and serves as past President of the East Texas Chapter, and in 2008 was honored as a â??Lifetimeâ?? member for his 40 consecutive years of membership. He served similar roles in the Southwestern Accountants Group and the National Association of Accountants. Bookie was proud of his community and strived to be a part of its growth and nurture, especially its youth. He participated in the founding of the Tyler Soccer Association and the East Texas Chapter of Palmer Drug Abuse Program. He served as past president of those organizations as well as the Tyler Lionâ??s Club. Bookie was also an assistant Scout Leader of Boy Scout Troup #335. Mr. Bookie Shilling was preceded in death by his parents, O.C. and Grace McCloskey Shilling and two brothers, Cecil and Bobby Shilling. He is survived by a loving family including his wife of 36 years, Gay Markowitz Shilling of Tyler; a daughter, Leslee Hart and husband William of Tyler; two sons, Derek Shilling of Tyler and Mark Shilling and wife Rebecca Baker of Austin; daughter-in-law, Kristy Shilling of Tyler; grandchildren, Christian Lee Hart, Sophie Shilling, and Camden Shilling; and brother Charles David (Joe) Shilling and wife Stella of Houston. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of the Wednesday Morning Dialogue Breakfast Group at First Christian Church in Tyler. Memorials in honor of Marion Shilling may be made to the First Christian Church Memorial Fund, 4202 South Broadway, Tyler, Texas 75701; the Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd, Tyler, Texas 75701; or a charity of your choice.

Marion Schilling

November 15, 1935 - October 31, 2011