John Hiram Lemley

John Hiram Lemley, age 85, passed away May 22, 2017, at Hospice of West Alabama. Funeral services will be held Sunday, May 28, 3pm at Memory Chapel, Tuscaloosa, AL. Visitation will be one hour prior to service. Dolan Davis Jr. will officiate the service.

John Lemley was born on September 18, 1931 in Bessemer, AL to William Lee Lemley and Clara Turner Lemley. John graduated from Tuscaloosa County High School and attended the University of Alabama until enlisting in the Navy. He was a crew member (aviation machinist’s mate third class) on resupply aircraft during the Korean Conflict. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, John attended Livingston University where he met his future wife, Merle Fowler, at a sock-hop on campus. John and Merle were married in 1957 and enjoyed 59 years of marriage. They returned to Tuscaloosa and started a family with the birth of daughters Lea Ann and Marla. John worked in the painting and construction industries prior to his employment at Phifer Wire Products, where he later retired as Safety Director.

John will be remembered for captivating storytelling, practical jokes, loving his family well, and being a devoted and dependable friend. He loved fishing, hunting, and being outdoors. He enjoyed crafting, building, and flying model airplanes and had the good fortune of having many lifelong friends. He will be greatly missed by many.

John was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary Alice Anders Branum; brother, William Lee Lemley and daughter; Lea Ann Lemley Koniski.

John is survived by his loving wife, Merle Fowler Lemley; daughter, Marla Lemley Falls (Bob); son-in-law, James Edward Koniski (Lauren); grandchildren, John Edward Koniski of Norfolk, VA, Grant James Koniski of Philadelphia, PA, Stuart Lemley Falls and Madelyn Dean Falls of Tuscaloosa, AL, sister; Mildred Lemley Hutchins, as well as a number of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Bob Falls, Stuart Falls, James Koniski, John Koniski, Grant Koniski, and John Robert Hutchins.

Honorary Pallbearers are Butch Hanks, Mac Nelson, Doyle Pitts, Donnie Stephens, Dr. John Crew, Dr. David Hinton, staff of DCH Manderson Cancer Center, members of the West Alabama Aero Modelers club, staff of Hospice of West Alabama, co-workers of Phifer Wire Products, special neighbors of Buckhead subdivision, and other hunting and fishing friends whose company he has enjoyed throughout his life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of West Alabama, 3851 Loop Rd., Tuscaloosa, AL 35404.