Retired U.S. Army Colonel Marvin E. Lackey

Marvin Edwin Lackey was born in Georgetown, Texas on April 2, 1930, to Arthur Lee Lackey and Thelma Wells Lackey. He passed on to Heaven on February 7, 2025, at the age of 94.  Marvin grew up in Georgetown with his family, including his beloved grandfather, David Wells and his grandmother, Nancy Lourenah Wells. He often told stories of life in Georgetown during the Great Depression and World War II, such as saving old metal coat hangers and riding his bike to San Gabriel Park with his friends. Marvin was an excellent athlete at Georgetown High School, graduating in 1948.  He was awarded a full athletic scholarship to the University of Houston, where he played on the offensive line. Marvin proudly remembered their 1952 win over the Dayton Flyers in the Salad Bowl, his senior year. After graduation, he coached football at UH while obtaining his master’s degree.

Marvin entered the U.S. Army in 1954 and served 24 years.  He was first assigned to Ft. Lee, Virginia. While serving there, he met Anna Ruth Streety.  She was also a native Texan, and they quickly fell in love. They wed on Nov. 4,1955 and were happily married for 69 years until her death on November 22, 2024. They had two daughters, Nancy Lou and Lisa. During their long years together, Marvin was assigned to many exotic locales, including Japan and Germany. One of his most rewarding assignments was as commander of a battalion. He was deployed to the Vietnam area twice. He was stationed at Ft. Hood many times as he was a part of the Quartermaster Corps, which is headquartered there.  Retired Colonel Marvin Lackey was the recipient of numerous awards and decorations that demonstrate his honorable service to our county both at home and overseas. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Service Commendations Medal, the Army Service Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Army Aviation Aircraft Crewman Badge.  In 1978, he retired from the Army.

Marvin and Ann moved back to his hometown, when he was nearing retirement. Marvin then had a successful career in real estate. After working for others, he opened Lackey Real Estate a few blocks off the Square, where he bought, sold and leased homes and businesses mainly in the Old Town area.  He and Ann purchased an old home on Main Street, which they restored and lived in for several years, before moving to the west side of town to live along the river.

Marvin loved Georgetown and was a part of the original group that worked to restore the beautiful Square. He proudly served on the Georgetown City Council from 1980-1986. He was also always very proud of his maternal family’s long history in Williamson County.  His ancestors started farming in the Leander area in about 1854 and continue to do so today.  He loved the family farm and visited it often. Also, he and Ann were faithful members of St. John’s Methodist Church in Georgetown for approximately 50 years.

Most of all, Marvin loved his family.  He was a loving and supportive husband to Ann and a wonderful father to his daughters. Being a grandfather to his granddaughters, Ruth-Ann, Elizabeth and Ricki brought him a lot of joy. The Lackeys bought a lake house, and he took his granddaughters fishing on his boat on Lake Buchanan as often as possible. When the grandchildren were little, he did not miss one important event.  As the family grew, his great-granddaughters, Lillian, Amelia and Aurora always brought a huge smile to his face during their visits with him.

He and Ann lived at Grand Living in Georgetown for the last few years.  His family would especially like to thank his caregiver, Angie, who tirelessly worked to make him comfortable during his long illness.

Marvin was predeceased by his wife, Ann, his brother, Walter Lee Lackey, and his son-in-law, Rick Birkman. In addition to his many friends, he is survived by his daughters: Nancy Lou Lackey and her husband, Greg Eagle plus his daughter, Lisa Birkman; his granddaughters: Ruth-Ann Eagle Toups and her husband, Nick Toups, Elizabeth Shires and her husband, Ethan Shires and Ricki Birkman plus his great-granddaughters: Lillian Toups, Amelia Shires and Aurora Shires.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at St. John’s Methodist Church, 311 East University Avenue, Georgetown for both Marvin and Ann Lackey at 10 a.m. on March 15, 2025. Interment of their ashes in the family plot at Bagdad Cemetery in Leander will follow. After the interment, the family invites you to attend a reception at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Georgetown Project, 
www.georgetownproject.org or the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.