Charles Herbert Marley

WEAVERVILLE – Charles Herbert Marley, age 90, of Weaverville passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at the Greens of Weaverville. He was born on December 1, 1935, in Miami, FL to the late Herb and Katherine Marley, who were originally from the North Carolina Piedmont.

Charles grew up in Florida and was a graduate of the University of Miami in Coral Gables. From there he enlisted in the US Air Force. After his time in the military, he spent the rest of his career working for the US Treasury Department, investigating large corporate cases. As a committed naturalist, Charles enjoyed all regions of the state from the mountains to the coast where he enjoyed fishing trips with his son and admiring nature including the Brown Pelicans of Beaufort, NC. In the mountains, he and his wife supported the Arboretum, the Botanical Gardens, and the Carolina Mountain Club, as well as National and NC State Parks through volunteer work. He loved returning to visit Lexington, NC for their BBQ.

Charles did more than 40 domestic Mission trips to help disaster victims in many places including the Gulf Coast, West Virginia, Alaska and California. He loved nature and his fellow man. We will remember him by the Thomas Fuller quote “He that plants trees loves others besides himself.”

He was married to Frances Batten Marley for 62 years, who passed in 2022. Surviving is his son, Douglas Marley of Weaverville; and very good friends, Wesley and Mayfair Head of Marshall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the North Carolina Arboretum Society, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806; MANNA Food Bank, 99 Broadpointe Drive, Mills River, NC 28759; UNCA-A Botanical Gardens, 151 WT Weaver Blvd., Asheville, NC 28804; or Carolina Mountain Club, P. O. Box 68, Asheville, NC 28802. The family would like to send a special thank you to the Reems Creek and Asheville Fire & Rescue teams as well as the NC Highway Patrol.

West Family Funeral Services is honored to be serving the Marley family. Condolences may be offered to the family under his obituary at www.westfamilyfuneralservices.com.