Funeral services for Steve Lewis Townley, 95, of Livingston, Texas will be held Monday, November 18, 2024, at 10 a.m. at the Church of Christ in Livingston, Texas with Bro. Lindell Mitchell officiating. Interment will follow at Midway Cemetery in Livingston, Texas. Visitation will be held Sunday, November 17, 2024, from 5-8 p.m. at the Cochran Funeral Home Chapel in Livingston, Texas.
Steve Townley was born April 21, 1929 in Livingston, Texas. His father was Stephen Buck Townley and his mother was Nora Essie Ivy Townley. Mr. Townley passed away November 14, 2024 in Livingston, Texas. He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Myrlie Townley; sisters Bessie Ivy White, Fay Ivy Moore, and Etta Townley Smith; and brother, Talley Wayne Ivy.
He attended the Livingston public schools and graduated from Livingston High School in 1946. After high school he attended Sam Houston State Teachers College and graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. His first job after college was with the First National Bank of Conroe and he later managed a Brookshire Brothers store. In 1951 he was drafted and served in the army during the Korean War. After his discharge in 1953 he started working as a bookkeeper for the First State Bank of Livingston. Forty-one years later in 1994 he retired from the bank. At the time of his retirement, he was serving the bank as Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. After retirement he continued his association with the bank by serving on the Board of Directors and on the Board of Directors of East Texas Bancshares, Inc. until January 2022.
In 1955 he married the love of his life Myrlie Holder. To this union two sons were born, William Stephen Townley and Mark Lewis Townley. William (Bill) is married to the former Melanie Coplen. Mark is married to the former Kathryn Scott, and they have a daughter named Sarah Michal. He was a family man and always looked forward to the family get togethers.
Townley was always interested and active in community affairs. In Conroe he served as a scout leader and later was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Livingston Independent School District. He was active in the Chamber of Commerce and held various offices in that organization. He was a charter Member of Polk County Crimestoppers. Active in the Lions Club since 1960, he held various offices in that club, including president, and was a recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellow Award. In 2004 the Livingston Lions Club presented him a life membership in the Texas Lions Camp. In 1999 he was awarded a lifetime membership in the Sam Houston State University Golden Circle Club in recognition of having marked the 50th anniversary of his graduation from that university. He was active in the Future Farmers of America and was an honorary member of the Big Sandy Chapter. Townley was a very active member of the Livingston Church of Christ where he served as teacher, song director, deacon, and later as an elder for over 40 years.
He loved the outdoors, hunting deer and seeing about the cattle. He especially enjoyed hunting at the West Texas lease with sons Bill and Mark, sitting around after supper with all his hunting buddies with each one talking about his hunt that day.
He is survived by son, Bill Townley and wife, Melanie; son, Mark Townley and wife, Kathryn; granddaughter, Sarah Townley; and sisters, Evelyn Townley Durant and Becky Townley Ehrlich Bobo; along with numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Pallbearers: Bruce Durant, Buck Durant, Stewart Durant, Tommy Ivy, Chuck Parks, Dean Hendrix, Brad Ehrlich, and Stephen Smith.
Honorary Pallbearers: Officers and Directors of the First State Bank, Elders and Deacons of the Livingston Church of Christ, Aidney Reeves, Lester Oliver, and Sam McDonald.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sunny Glen Children’s Home, P.O. Box 1373, San Benito, Texas 78586-9902.
Cochran Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Please sign our online guestbook at www.cochranfh.com. 673
