Funeral Services for Morley St. John, age 88, will be held at 10:00 am, Tuesday, August 5th, 2008, at the First United Methodist Church of Fairview. The Reverend Rich Redingerwill officiate. Burial will follow at the Fairview Cemetery west of Fairview. Arrangements are by Fairview Funeral Home, Inc.

Morley was born April 4, 1920 in Fairview, OK to Theodore "Dode" and Rosemond Elizabeth (Mayes) St. John and died August 2, 2008 at the Fairview Hospital. He attended the Fairview School System and graduated from High School in 1940. His second year of High School he began working in the booth of the Royal Theatre in Fairview, learning to run the projection equipment which became his life-long vocation. In 1941, Morley joined the Enid, OK Projectionist Union and that summer went to Reno, Nevada and worked for one year in the theatres and nightclubs with the Reno's Projectionist Union.

After World War II broke out he tried to re-enlist but due to intermittent inner ear infections, he had experienced since childhood, he was turned down. Returning to Oklahoma City, he worked for Douglas Aircraft as inspector in engine pre-flight until the end of the war.

June 1, 1943 Morley married his High School sweetheart Helen Marie (Dvorak) in Fairview, OK. They made their home in Oklahoma City until 1983.

After the war, Morley returned to theatre work under the jurisdiction of Oklahoma City Local #380 and transferred his membership into Local #380 in 1955. During this time and up to his retirement in 1982 he worked in theatres that ran 70 M.M. films, Cinerama pictures, 3D shows and Multiplex Automated Theatres that had four screens with only one person to run all shows simultaneously. Cinerama required six people to run every show.

After his retirement in 1982 Morley was given a Gold Card at a dinner honoring his 14 years of service to Local #380 as Chairman of the Contract Committee and two terms as President of the Local. In 1981 Morley and Helen with the help of Helen's brother Louis "Bud" Dvorak and his wife Pearl started construction on their retirement home in Fairview and commuted between Fairview and Oklahoma City, finally moving to Fairview in April of 1983. In 1985, Morley went back to work at the reopened Royal Theatre and continued part time until the summer of 1996. In 1988 after a 12 block paving district was turned down by property owners, he contacted surrounding property owners of West Elm Street between 2nd and 3rd streets (1 of 3 blocks not objected to) and with the help from the city of Fairview was able to get a concrete street constructed for considerably less cost to the property owners that had the work been done under the paving district.

In the summer and fall of 1989, Morley and Helen served on the Time Capsule committee to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the present Blackledge Auditorium.

In 1990, Morley was asked to serve on the Fairview City Library Board. In 1993 after the death of Bill Krouse Library Board President, Morley was elected Board President, a position he held until he retired from the Library Board in 2000. The Library Board worked tirelessly untold number of hours with the Architect and representatives from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries in order to bring about the current Fairview Library, which will carry us well into the 21st century.

In 1991, Morley was honored for 50 years of membership by the International Alliance of Motion Picture Projectionist Union located in New York City, which covers all the United Stated and Canada. In 1995 for his 75th birthday, the International Alliance gave him a Gold Honorary Lifetime Membership Card, which stated that he shall be exempt from the payment of dues for life.
Survivors include his wife Helen; two sons, Donald Bruce and wife Deborah St. John, Daniel Kent and wife Dianne St. John all of Yukon, OK; his sister Genevieve and husband Colonel Ancil Baker of Fairfield, CA; 5 grandchildren; Annie, Danielle, Michael, Matthew and Mark, 2 great grandchildren; Dallas and Jolianna.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and one sister.

Memorials can be made through the Fairview Funeral Home to the United Methodist Church of Fairview, OK.