A Central Texas city is celebrating the life of a former mayor and a World War II veteran.
Keifer Marshall Jr. was a part of the Battle of Iwo Jima.
"I don't think I ever would have been mayor had I not had someone to look up to like Keifer Marshall," Danny Dunn, the current Mayor of Temple, said.
Keifer Marshall Jr., a 1942 graduate of Temple High School, was laid to rest after a life of service to his country and hometown.
"There's no one that could fill his shoes in this role or, quite frankly, in any other role that he was a part of," Dunn added.
Marshall served the City of Temple as mayor and our country as a Marine rifleman during World War II and the Battle of Iwo Jima.
"I think in his opinion, it was not his job to speak on his exploits, but to make everyone realize that in America we all have our roles to do, and we all have to work and continue to make this country what it is today," Dunn said.
"Keifer set a plum line, a standard, that I think all of us that knew him in Texas and beyond wanted to emulate ourselves," Dianne White Delisi, a life-long friend of Marshall's and the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, said.
A standard that had people flooding into the church to pay their respects at Marshall's funeral service.
"It's expected and well deserved that people are not here because they feel an obligation to be, but they are here because he was such a wonderful person," Dunn added.
"I saw younger people, future leaders, of this area that are growing up in this same legacy of character that Keifer left," Delisi added.
Marshall passed away at the age of 91 having been married to the love of his life, Sammie, for 69 years.
"He will be missed, but he's given us a legacy... friend, leader, devoted husband, patriot," Delisi said.
While the funeral service began with church hymns, it ended with "America, The Beautiful," one of Keifer Marshall's favorite songs.
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