Jack Markley, Jr.

     Jackie “Jack” W. Markley, Jr., age 58, a resident of Indianapolis, passed away on Friday, June 4, 2021 at St. Francis in Indianapolis.  He was a former resident of Winchester. 

     Jack was born on August 9, 1962, in Winchester, the son of Jackie “Jack” Markley, Sr. and Lois E. (Hilgenberg) Markley.    Jack served in the U.S. Army where he played in the Army Band.  Jack married Lila Gage and she passed away on Oct. 24, 2019.

     Jack currently served as Director of Liturgy and Music at St. Jude Catholic Church in Indianapolis.  He formerly served as Director of Music Ministries at St. Basil the Great Parish in Phoenixville, PA. He also formerly served as Director of Liturgical Music & Organist of Church of the Holy Family in Virginia Beach, VA. A Catholic community of traditional worship style with 1600+ families.  He was very successful in combining the musical styles such as Latin, Gospel, Classical, Contemporary & music of the modern idiom.  He had been successful in overseeing an active & diverse music program of Instrumental, Choral, Orchestral & Brass, and Day School Choir, Guitars, Hand bells & Children’s Music.  Mr. Markley enjoyed being the Associate Director/Accompanist of semi-professional ensembles such as “Mystic River Chorale” and “Bellissima”.  In February of 2009, Mr. Markley made his debut with the Virginia Beach Symphony Orchestra as Soloist and was appointed Principal Organist.  Mr. Markley served on the executive board of the American Guild of Organists for the Tidewater Chapter.

     A native of Winchester, Indiana, Jack came from a very musical family and began his musical education at home.  His mother Lois was his first piano teacher.  Although his mother was known for her musicality, Jack was exceptionally gifted and quickly mastered what she could teach him on the piano.  Lois soon sought help from Ann Morford to broaden his genre of music and move on to classic piano. He graduated from Winchester High School where he played in the Winchester Community High School Marching Showband under the direction of Max Jones. Then attending Indiana University, where he studied Organ Performance with the late Dr. Robert C. Rayfield, a noted scholar on the works of Leo Sowerby and Franck.  He studied Sacred Music with Dr. Marilyn Keiser, also of Indiana University.  Jack then entered The Juilliard School to work with Dr. Jon Gillock of Paris, France.  Dr. Gillock is a noted international authority on the works of Olivier Messiean & the 19th century French School.

      After the Juilliard School, Jack was appointed as Director of Music at the historic Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the Green in Bloomfield, New Jersey.  A position held by many famous & highly acclaimed musicians. Such musicians being those like Roberta Bitgood, Ernest White, Clarence Dickinson, and American Composer, Charles Ives.

      As Organist & Church Musician, Jack performed & ministered over the eastern portion of the United States.  He gave lectures & Master Classes in both Church Music & Organ Performance.  Jack specialized in the 19th Century French Romantic period of Organ Music.  Mr. Markley was heard with much acclaim as a recitalist at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.  He was a featured artist at “Avery Fisher Hall” at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts as a vocalist in the “Mostly Mozart Festival” televised “Live from Lincoln Center” series.  While at Juilliard, Mr. Markley was featured as a composer for the “Composer/Choreographer Forum” in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.  In 1996 Jack made his New York City debut as a conductor at Amato Opera in NYC, conducting Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors”.

   As an Organist, Mr. Markley appeared in concerts sponsored by AGO Chapters, Churches and Concert Halls.  He was a featured recitalist for International Prime Ministers and dignitaries of England, Egypt, Israel and France.  In May of 1992 he was invited by the Director General, Ernest Kay of Cambridge, England to be published in the 23rd edition of “The International who’s Who in Music”.  

      Jack Markley was a member of Mu Phi Epsilon, a national honorary music fraternity and many liturgical & non liturgical musical associations.  Mr. Markley has been heard in live performance broadcast over WQME 98.7 FM as well as on National Public Radio and live television broadcasts such as “Live from Lincoln Center Telecast”.

            Survivors include:

            2 sisters:  Teresa Morgan (wife Stephanie) – Anderson, Indiana

                            Regina Norton – Ridgeville, Indiana

            3 nephews:  Jedidiah Norton (wife Sarah), Carter Norton and Elijah Curme

            1 niece:  Dacia Curme

            1 great-nephew:  Sincere Alexander Curme

            His beloved Shitzu Mimi Markley 

            He was preceded in death by his parents; Jackie “Jack” Markley, Sr. and Lois E. Bradburn. 

            Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. at St. Jude Catholic Church, 5353 McFarland Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46227.  A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the church. 

            Visitation will also be held on Saturday, June 19, 2021 from 3-5 p.m. at Williamson-Spencer and Penrod Funeral Home, 208 N. Commerce St., Portland, Indiana 47371.  Services to celebrate Jack’s life will follow at 5 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. 

            In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed towards Teresa Morgan to establish a scholarship fund in Jack’s name, a local cancer society in Jack’s name or to a local church in Jack’s name. 

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