Meet Bob and Jean Markley

Bob and Jean moved to Indianapolis in April 1977 where Bob was employed by an investment management subsidiary owned by Merchants National Bank. In 1984, his business partner and he founded Heartland Capital Management which the partners sold to Fifth Third Bank in 1997.

As they settled into their new community, Bob and Jean had three criteria for a church home: excellent preaching, an outstanding music program, and a strong commitment to mission work in the community and world. They took their time looking for a church and were delighted when they discovered that St. Luke's met all three criteria.

Bob and Jean joined the church in 1980 and became involved in various activities. Bob was instrumental in helping to start the church's endowment in 1989. Jean served on many committees over the years but is probably best remembered at St. Luke's for starting the tradition of making, with friends, the cinnamon buns at the annual church bazaar. Jean's closest friends were other women in the church.

In 2001, Bob retired from Heartland Capital Management and they moved to St. Petersburgh, Florida. They split time between Florida and Indianapolis until 2005 when they sold their Indianapolis home and split time between Florida and Cashiers, NC. In 2018 they sold their Florida home and moved to Cashiers, NC full-time. They now split their time between Cashiers and Charlotte, North Carolina where their son, Jeff and his family live. Their other son, Bob, lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with his son.

Today Bob and Jean are members of First Presbyterian Church of Highlands, NC. a much smaller church of 150 members but one also known for excellent preaching, music, and mission work. However, St. Luke's still holds a special place in their hearts. "Being a part of St. Luke's was an incredible journey," Bob notes "We loved the people the preaching, and everything about it." They give thanks for the excellent leadership of Carver McGriff and Kent Millard when they were members of St. Luke's. One of their fond memories is the trip they took to Normandy with Carver McGriff in 2012.

In fact, they are so grateful for the role St. Luke's played in their lives that they have included the church in their estate plans. When asked what motivated them to do so, they respond, "We have been blessed. St. Luke's has meant so much to us so we decided to include the church in our estate plans." They give thanks for their many wonderful memories of St. Luke’s and are grateful that their estate gift will help ensure that others can have similar experiences in the years ahead.

St. Luke's, in turn, gives thanks to Bob and Jean Markley for their thoughtful estate planning and for the many ways they continue to share their time, talents, and treasure to help make this a better world. The church is pleased to recognize them as members of St. Luke's Legacy Society. If you would like more information on how you too can become a member of St. Luke's Legacy Society, contact David Heetland, pastor of planned giving, at [email protected] or 317.399.6202.