Marvin Leroy Clarkson

December 13, 1926 - July 23, 2016

Marvin was born Dec. 13, 1926 in Booker Texas to Eula and Edwin Clarkson. Marvin would be the oldest of five children. The family lived in Booker until Marvin was age 9. Hard times and the dust bowl blew them to southern Idaho. During Marvin’s youth he discovered a love for growing animals and growing crops. As Marvin became a young man he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served in Berlin during the occupation at the end of the war. On Dec 31, 1948 Marvin married the sweet young Louise Hockett at Greenleaf Idaho. They began their life together working on farms in the Greenleaf And Melba areas of Idaho. They were soon joined by a son Danny and a daughter Barbara. In 1957 Marvin began working his own dairy in Notus Idaho. In 1964 a third child, Chuck, joined the family. In 1966 the dairy was sold and Marvin worked at various farms. In 1973 Marvin became the Irrigation Manager at Eastern Oregon Farms in Irrigon, Or. After 17 years he moved on to George Fox University and joined their physical plant staff until his retirement at age 82. On February 8, 2011 his beloved Louise passed away in order to get the garden ready for Dad to see it. Marvin’s passion was watching life grow. Sometimes it was plants. Other times it was animals, but he greatest joy was seeing spiritual growth in the lives of people. Marvin always had an influence on those around him through encouragement, wisdom and mentoring. Many students at George Fox learned to love Marvin and kept in touch with him. Later in life Marvin and Louise received a lot of joy through their involvement with the Foster Friends program that supported the GFU girls basketball team He continued to meet with two of his Foster friends each week right up until his death. A funeral will be held july 29, 10:00am at Attrells Funeral Chapel, Newberg, OR 97132 Survivors include: Son Danny Clarkson, his wife Debi and children Bart, Katie and Lori. Daughter Barbara Hatfield, her husband Ernie and their children Jay and Robert. Son Chuck Clarkson, and his children Joel, Amanda, and Caleb. Brother Marion Clarkson. Sister Letha Dillon Precedded in death by his parents Edwin and Eula Clarkson. Brothers Howard Clarkson and Everett Clarkson.