Marvin Morrell (1923-2008)

Marvin Morrell spoke up in class last Wednesday night. We were in John 15, where Jesus tells his disciples, I am the vine, you are the branches. Every branch, Jesus said, is expected to bear fruit.

We had turned to Galatians 5, which speaks of the fruit of the Spirit. Marvin noted a similar but shorter passage in Ephesians. That was Marvin: attentive and thoughtful, positive and giving. I remembered that about Marvin when, last Friday, we heard that he had suddenly died. What a shock. What a loss.

Marvin was a leader, one of my elders at the San Jacinto Church of Christ. He exuded love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. To say that he was a good man just doesn't cut it. He was a Christ-like man who had lived such a true life for so long that everyone who knew him had the same opinion of him. He will be missed.

"And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth.' "Yes,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them'." --Revelation 14:13

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The following comes from the obituary that appears in today's (Monday) edition of the Amarillo Globe-News:

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in San Jacinto Church of Christ with Glen Walton, Brett McCasland and Dale Dennis officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home.

Marvin was born July 26, 1923, in Wellington, Kan. He lived in Amarillo for 48 years where he was employed by Santa Fe Railway as a right-of-way agent until his retirement in 1983. As a young man he served in the U.S. Navy as a yeoman second class during World War II.

On Feb. 19, 1947, he married Estalene Virginia Floyd. This marriage was blessed with three daughters.

Marvin was a devoted member and elder at San Jacinto Church of Christ and was very involved as a mentor to the prison ministry. He was an avid golfer and fisherman and loved woodworking projects that his children and grandchildren requested.

Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Linda Perkins and husband Charles of Abilene, Debra Risley and husband Ed of Cheyenne, Okla., and Patti Conner and husband Daryl of Lubbock; a sister, Dorothy Lauterbach of Wellington, Kan.; seven grandchildren and their spouses; and four great-grandsons.

The family suggests memorials be in lieu of flowers to Amarillo College Bible Chair, 2501 S. Jackon, Amarillo, TX 79109, or Key to the Kingdom, 4124 Business Park Drive, Amarillo, TX 79110.