Father Malachy Corley was enthusiastic about his life at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers. Though he wasn’t a chatty man, it was clear his life was enriched after he became a Trappist monk, his nephew said.
“He set a great example for our whole family,” said Patrick Corley, a nephew who lives in St. Louis. “His calling to the religious order was late in life, and he had a whole life before then, but he knew this was the way for him.”
Father Malachy was two months shy of his 100th birthday when he died Friday in the monastery's infirmary. A funeral service will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Conyers monastery, with burial immediately following in the monastery cemetery. Scot Ward Funeral Services is in charge of arrangements.
Born James Henry Lamar Corley in Indian Creek, Mo., Father Malachy was raised in a Catholic household, Mr. Corley said of his uncle. He earned two degrees from St. Louis University and he served in the Army during World War II. His military service was completed in 1946 and three years later, while working as a printer in Kentucky, he began his journey toward the monastic life. In June 1949, he entered Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery. Father Malachy made his solemn profession in 1954, and was ordained a priest in 1955.
Mr. Corley said his uncle’s decision to become a monk was not an easy one.
“He had a very vibrant life before he ever went into the order,” his nephew said. “He often said that God called on the phone, but he would never answer, but he said he finally picked up the phone, and the rest was history.”
When he chose the monastery, Father Malachy took with him his skills and talents as a mechanic and all-around handyman.
“He was our resident mechanic for years,” said Brother Mark Dohle. “He could fix anything.”
Father Malachy was also known as a patient and quiet man, who didn’t rush into making decisions or giving answers.
“He was a great listener and he was going to give great thought to what you said to him before he answered,” Brother Mark said. “He always paused before he said anything, letting you know he’d thought about what he was about to say.”
But talking wasn’t really Father Malachy’s thing, so when he spoke, people listened.
“He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, what he said something important,” said Father Anthony Delisi.
Mr. Corley fondly remembers his uncle as a “doer not a talker,” who wanted to live for God. In 2005, Father Malachy celebrated 50 years as an ordained priest, and at the time of his death, he’d been a monk for more than 63 years.
“He was an example to us, and others, in a very quiet and humble way,” his nephew said.
Father Malachy is also survived by several other nephews and a number of nieces.
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