Minister Marvin E. Stevens Sr....Age 83

VISITATION: NOON - 1:30pm SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2014

SERVICE: 1:30pm FOLLOWING VISITATION - BOTH SERVICES AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF PARKER, PARKER, KS

BURIAL: PARKER CEMETERY, PARKER, KS. WITH MILITARY HONORS

MEMORIALS: MARVIN E. STEVENS SR. MEMORIAL FUND

Memorials may be sent in care of Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home P.O. Box 430, Osawatomie, KS 66064

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Marvin Evert Stevens Sr. age 83, of Parker, Kansas died Friday, November 14, 2014 at his home.

Marvin was born on June 12, 1931 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma the eleventh child of fourteen to Stephen E. and Viola F. (Sheets) Stevens. He grew up on the family farm in Wann, Oklahoma, with a large loving family. He attended school in Wann, but chose to leave school after the tenth grade to work for his father on the farm.

Marvin enlisted in the United State Army on May 12, 1949 in Oklahoma City, he was sent to school in in Atlanta, Georgia for thirty days to learn auto-maintenance on different kinds of military transports. Later he was shipped overseas to the island of Okinawa during the Occupation of Japan for this he received the Army Occupation Medal. Marvin served as a supervisor in the tank maintenance department for most of his three and a half years with the Army. On October 31, 1952 he was honorably discharged at Fort Sill, Oklahoma with the rank of Sergeant.

After leaving the Army, Marvin moved to Kansas City, Kansas to stay with one of his brothers. While living in Kansas City a man he worked with brought him home for dinner and to meet his daughter, Melba Jean Tinsley. It was love at first sight and within a short two weeks the couple was getting a marriage license and were joined in holy matrimony on May 15, 1953 in Kansas City, Kansas. They became the parents of three children Edith, Marvin Jr. and Tonya. In 1968 Marvin and Melba were blessed with another addition to the family when they received a baby boy to call theirs, his name was Rodney. Marvin and Melba were married for over sixty-one years.

They made their home in the city and Marvin went to work for Lou Schutte at the lumber yard as a truck driver in 1954 until 1971. He then drove a truck for Anderson Window Company until 1976. During this time Marvin and the family attended church at the Hillside Baptist Church in Argentine, Kansas where Marvin served as a Deacon and lay minister. Marvin was ordained by the Baptist Church and received his first church in 1980. Moving to Joplin, Missouri in 1986 to Minister at the 1st Missionary Baptist Church. He also worked as a truck driver for Four State Lumber. They and son Rodney lived in Joplin until 2001 when they moved back to Kansas and settled in Parker.

Marvin and Melba became active members of the First Baptist Church of Parker where Marvin served as Minister whenever he was needed. He was also called upon to serve as interim Minister for the Lansing State Correctional Facility, in Lansing, Kansas. Which he did gladly for about a year. Marvin was a man who enjoyed work and loved being a truck driver, his ministry was not work to him but pure joy. His last employment was at the Linn County Compactor in Parker where he served as the operator. Marvin also served as Mayor for the City of Parker in the past.

Marvin was a member of the Teamsters Union Local #541 of Kansas City.

Marvin loved the Bible and was a man of strong faith. He himself said many times he was a born again believer. He loved people and would do anything he could to help anyone and everyone who was in need. No matter when, where or what the reason, Marvin would be there to help. He ministered to hundreds of people for many years and even his failing health did not stop him. He liked watching cartoons, reading many different newspapers and throwing a hook and line in a lake, pond or river whenever he had the chance to enjoy the sport of fishing.

He was a kind and loving man who attributed his strong faith, character, dignity and loyalty to God and family to his parents. He will be remembered and missed by the many lives he has touched throughout the years.

Marvin was preceded in death by his parents and six siblings, five brothers: Robert, Orville, Harley, Lester, Clifford Stevens and one infant sister Geraldine Dee Stevens.

He is survived by his wife Melba and son Rodney Hetzer of the home, son Marvin Stevens Jr.of Shawnee, KS and two daughters: Edith (Danny) Caray of Kansas City, MO and Tonya (Gary Sr.) Williams of Overland Park, KS. Five brothers Glenn, Chester, Vaughn, Virgil and Gerald and two sisters Loraine and Arline. Five grand-children Michael and Jason Caray, Roberta (Randy) LaHaye, Gary Jr.and Gannon Williams and seven great-grandchildren.