Lance Cpl. Cody R. Stanley, 21, of Rosanky, died Oct. 28 from injuries sustained after an improvised explosive device detonated while he was patrolling against enemy forces in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Stanley joined the Marine Corps a few months after graduation from Smithville High School in 2006.

“He was a remarkable young man, and one of the best examples of what we want in our kids and how we want this school represented,” said Tony Quitta, Stanley’s high school English teacher. “There is no question he had what it took, the morals, values and standards.”

Stanley enlisted on Oct. 16, 2006, and his military awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Iraqi Campaign Medal.

“Cody believed in what he was doing,” Quitta said. “He was a true country gentleman. I’m thankful he was out there fighting for us.”

Last Sunday afternoon, Stanley’s friends were putting up signs along the route his funeral procession will take to his resting place in Lockhart. One of the signs, placed across the street from Smithville High School, reads, “We Love You Cody, SHS 2006.”

Helping with the signs was one of Stanley’s closest friends, Lance Cpl. Tyler Foerster, who joined the Marines a year after Stanley and is on leave from Camp Lejeune for the funeral. Foerster said he lost a best friend. The two grew up together in the Rosanky area, hunting, fishing and living the country life.

KaLeigh Goertz and Kyle Behrens, friends and classmates of Stanley’s, were helping with the signs. With just a few words they conveyed their deep feelings for their friend, saying that Cody will be greatly missed.

The group also included Tammy and Glenn Goertz, Sharon and John Foerster and Chase Dupris. Posting the signs seemed to draw the group together through their grief, providing an opportunity to share the memories of their fallen friend.

Stanley was a rifleman serving with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines and was stationed at Twentynine Palms, Calif. He served in Iraq in 2008 and he deployed to Afghanistan in early October 2009.

Stanley is the third graduate of Smithville High School to die in the last three years while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Stanley is survived by his parents, Bob and Wendi, and his younger brother Cade. The family resided on the Double D Ranch in Rosanky for 18 years.

Family will receive friends from 4 – 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 5 at McCurdy Funeral Home in Lockhart.  Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Friday, Nov.6, at First Baptist Church in Smithville, 300 Hudgins St., with Rev. Mike Murphy officiating. Interment will follow at Clarks Chapel Cemetery in Lockhart with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First-Lockhart National Bank, 111 S. Main Street, Lockhart, Texas 78644, account:  Cody Stanley, LCpl USMC for Wounded Warriors.

The funeral procession will travel from the First Baptist Church in Smithville along Loop 230 and turn left onto Hwy. 95. The procession will turn right in front of Smithville High School, onto FM 535 and continue to Rosanky. The procession will then turn left on Hwy. 304 and proceed south, making a right onto FM 713, proceeding to the Clarks Chapel Cemetery at Old McMahan Trail.