Marvin Leo Vickers

Marvin Leo Vickers, 83, El Dorado Springs, passed away Dec. 29, 2009, at Cedar County Memorial Hospital in El Dorado Springs. Marvin was born on a farm south of Dederick to Charles Edward Vickers and Iva Whitesell Vickers. Marvin had three brothers and nine sisters.

After completing his sophomore year in high school, he began working with his brother in a garage in Nevada. At 18 he was drafted into the Army Air Corps and trained as a tail gunner. After his service, he left Missouri traveling to Idaho for two years to work in a garage again with his brother, Kenneth, where they sold Kaiser cars.

In 1952 he came back to Missouri to farm in his home community, marrying Miss Shirley Mullins in June. To this union were born two sons, Clinton and Chris. He was the happiest when his kids and grandkids were home working on one of his many ongoing farm projects, always telling everyone, “Can’t doesn’t live here.”

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, never missing a deer season and told tall tales upon returning to the house. Marv enjoyed watching his kids and grandkids play sports. He loved farming and did all farming chores until the last year of his life. He had a passion for tractors old, and new, and spent many hours fixing up the old ones.

Marv was a man who was willing to help others, his motto, if he had it and you needed it; it pleased him to let you borrow it.
One of his proudest moments was when he purchased one of the first big round balers in the area. His sons and nephews were proud, too, since they were the hay haulers for the square bales. He was a regular at the local farm sales, always looking for something he didn’t have that might help him accomplish more.

Shirley struggled always, trying to get Marv to stay out of the candy jar and eat a square meal. He loved his candy; he was a candy-a-holic, if there is such a thing.

Preceding Marvin in death were his parents, Charles and Iva Vickers; sister, Cleo Spencer; and brothers, Walter Vickers and Kenneth Martin.

Marvin is survived by his wife, Shirley, of the home; sons, Clinton, and wife, Lucy - Warrensburg, and Chris, and wife, Vickie - El Dorado Springs; grandchildren – Michael, and wife, Mandi - Lebanon, Caleb and Travis - Warrensburg, Ashley Esther - Joplin, and Quade Vickers - El Dorado Springs; great grandchildren - Lexi and Maverick Haley, and Cash and Duke Vickers - Lebanon; sisters - Beulah Pennock, Lora Vickers, Pauline Lowe, Donna Woody, Wilda Hall and Louise Gilbert - El Dorado Springs, and Wilma Vittetoe - Bolivar; brother, Oren Martin - El Dorado Springs; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

Marvin will be missed; the summer hay season will never be the same.

Services were held Thursday, Dec. 31, in the Sheldon Chapel with Rev. Brent Bland officiating. Music was One Day At A Time and The Old Rugged Cross with pianist Barry Witt. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, near El Dorado Springs, under the direction of Sheldon Funeral Home, El Dorado Springs.

Casketbearers were - Michael Vickers, Quade Vickers, Caleb Vickers, Wayne Pennock, Travis Vickers and Brian Brown. Honorary casketbearers were his nephews.