Marvin D Crocker

Marvin D. Crocker, Ph.D, 83, died on Sept. 20, 2017, of heart disease at Lake District Hospital in Lakeview, Ore.

Marv was born on Aug. 26, 1934, in a dugout in Baca County, Colo., to Lynn Luther and Jenny Inez Crocker (McNeil). He was a 1952 graduate of Rose Hill, Kansas, High School. After working at Boeing Airplane Co. in Wichita, Kan., he served in the U.S. Navy as a radarman. In 1959, he began his academic journey at San Diego State University. Transferring to University of Kansas, he earned a bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies in 1964 followed by a master's degree in urban planning in 1968. From 1966 to 1970, he was an instructor of geography at University of Southwestern Louisiana. He earned a Ph. D in geography at Oregon State University in 1973. He and his family lived in Mexico, where he researched for his dissertation: The Evolution of Mexican Forest Policy and Its Influence Upon Forest Resources. After translating all history from Spanish to English, the Mexican government then translated the dissertation back into Spanish, where it became an official document of the nation. After teaching at Buffalo State University, he was hired in 1975 by the U.S. Forest Service to work as a resource geographer on the RARE II Project and later became the public affairs officer for the Fremont National Forest in Lakeview. He married Lauri Noell on June 1, 1957, in Kansas City, Mo. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past June. Their daughter Jennifer was born in 1966. He was a loving father and he welcomed his grandson Michael Chen with open arms. He never missed his grandson's home football games from middle school to community college. While at the University of Kansas, he and Lauri became resident directors of Templin Hall, a 432-men residence hall for two years. As a child, he loved singing and competed in vocal contests. His tenor voice was enjoyed by many as he sang at weddings and funerals. At the University of Kansas, he sang in the first performance of the "Ballad of Baby Doe." In every community in which he resided, he sang in church choirs, performed in musicals and the Lakeview Community Theatre featured him in the leading roll of "Showboat." Marv loved bowling, reading, thinking, having discussions on the great issues of the world, and quietly serving his community. His community activities included 18 years as chair of the Community College Advisory Board, vice-chair of the Lakeview Town Planning Commission, co-chair of the Lake County July 4, 2000, Celebration, past president of the Lions Club, eye courier for the Lions Eye Bank, blood courier for the American Red Cross, an original member of the Prison Advisory Committee from inception through 2016, Town Air Quality member, Thursday night bowling league, Sage Hens Coffee Group, Lake Telecommunications Consortium, member and human resources chair of the Community Response Team, a 20-year cast member of the Lake Community Theatre, and his favorite annual community event: The Community Christmas Chorus. Marv helped found the High Country Harmonizer Barbershop Group. He was a 40-year choir member at the Methodist Church, where he also served as church liturgist and was on the board of trustees. Marv was fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and German. He loved learning new languages and was working on Chinese and Italian. Perhaps, his favorite pastime was helping coach Lauri's vocal students for their contest competitions. He was generous to all her students in any way that was needed. He was also trustee of the Glenn Crocker Rose Hill High School Science Scholarship for over 30 years. Survivors include his wife Lauri Noell Crocker; daughters Jennifer and Molly McDermond; grandson, Michael Chen; sister-in-law, Shirley Crocker; brother-in-law, Jack Barnes (Nancy), and numerous nieces, nephews, and good friends and neighbors. He was preceded in death by his parents; Lauri's parents, William and Blanche Noell; brothers, Glenn "Bud" Crocker and John Crocker; sister, Marge Westphal; sisters-in- law, Patricia Barnes and Bertha Orlick, and brothers-in-law, Earnest Hamm, Floyd Orlick and Doug Westphal. The first memorial service will be at Rose Hill, Kansas, United Methodist Church on Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. followed by committal at the Rose Hill Cemetery with military honors. A luncheon will follow in Rose Hill United Methodist Church. A celebration of his life will be held in Lakeview on Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. in First United Methodist Church followed by a catered luncheon in the fellowship hall. Memorial donations may be made to the Lakeview Lions Sight and Hearing, P.O. Box 228, Lakeview, OR 97630.