Marvin Leonard Loofbourrow of Bois D’ Arc, Missouri passed away on January 9, 2016 in Ash Grove at the age of 77 surrounded by family and friends. Born in Pomona, California in 1938, Marvin was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather.
Marvin attended Pomona High School and, like his Father before him, worked as a plumber extraordinaire in Southern California for many years until he moved his family to Missouri in 1970 and began his life as a farmer. He loved hunting, fishing, motocross, farming, animals, gardening and travel, and was a master storyteller to friends and family. But the role he treasured most in life was that of father and grandfather. He was known as a man of generous spirit who never shied away from hard work, and loved his family and friends.
Marvin was preceded in death by his parents John J. Loofbourrow and Ruby (Smith) Loofbourrow, grandsons Keith and Kevin McClure, granddaughter Amie Lee Loofbourrow, and his beloved dog Princess.
He is survived by his wife Anita Gustaveson; Emma Loofbourrow, mother of his four children: Brenda Harrigan and husband Mike, Karen McClure and husband Gary, Robert Loofbourrow and wife Meta and Charles Loofbourrow and wife Mary; three stepchildren: Cindy Major, Julie Hulsey and James Hulsey; and eight grandchildren: Kyle McClure, Krenda McClure, Taylor Harrigan, Savannah Loofbourrow, Jonathon Brannon, Kaden Dawson, Curtis Major and Hannah Loofbourrow. He is also survived by his brother Melvin Loofbourrow and sister Linda Loofbourrow of Southern California, as well as nieces, nephews, and cousins far and wide.
Visitation will be Monday, January 11, 2016 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Greenlawn Funeral Home North-Springfield. Funeral services will be Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 1:00 PM at the funeral home with burial following at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.
Memorials to: Ozark Mountain Deaf Church, 776 West farm Rd. 186, Springfield MO 65804.
Marvin, rest in peace
I have some special and fond memories of Marvin, he was such a good story teller and had had so many experiences in life that it was always a pleasure to talk with him. Ten years ago, when my family and Margie were visiting in Oklahoma (doing family history), Marvin drove out from Missouri to join in and in a ‘typical’ Marvin experience it turned out that he caught up with us in the middle of the highway!
Our cousins and my aunt Dorothy were travelling east bound on the highway out of Enid, he was driving west. Talking on the our cell phones we managed to see each other as we passed and he did a U-turn to join us on our visit to Guthrie. He stayed for several days – such a wonderful time! Between Marvin, John Hockaday, George Tritshler, and Dorothy, there was never a lack of story or a dull moment.
Sincere condolences to his family. Rest in peace.
Ron Snow
Memories of Uncle Marvin by his nephew, Grant Anderson
Memories of Uncle Marvin by his nephew Grant Anderson, 1-10-2016
Every family has a larger than life character amongst its ranks. Someone whose legendary exploits and stories are spoken about at every get together. A person whose character looms large in a collection of large characters.
My Uncle Marvin was one of those guys.
He left us yesterday, and as is often the case when someone of his stature moves on, the stories have come flooding back for those of us who knew him. For me, he was always the most physically strong and capable man I knew. The kind of Uncle you brag about to your friends. He was a true bragging trump card. His exploits put anything else the other kids had in their deck to shame.
One of his qualities that most stood out for me was his willingness to take you under wing and teach you something practical. Something important. One of those moments took place about 36 years ago on the shoulder of a dusty highway somewhere between Hemet, California and the middle of nowhere.
My family and I were flying down the road on a drive with Uncle Marvin, Kenny Rogers playing on his stereo, when all of a sudden the right rear tire blew. Not just some run-of-the-mill puncture, but a full-on, rubber spraying, monstrous boom, steel belts exploding everywhere kind of deal. I was ten years old at the time, and had never been in a blowout before. My heart was thumping and my eyes were as wide as saucers, but the the first thing I noticed when the chaos ensued was the total lack of panic from Uncle Marvin. No slamming on the brakes, no jerking of the wheel, just a calm removal of his foot from the gas, followed by a gradual slow down and pull over to the side of the road. In that moment any fear I had vanished. I saw the way he handled the situation, and I knew everything was going to be fine.
We hopped out of the car to take a look, and discovered the car sitting on the rim. Total blowout. Uncle Marvin looked over at me and said, “Guess we better change that tire.” When I told him I had never changed a tire before, he smiled and said, “Well, this seems like a pretty good time to learn.”
We unloaded the jack and spare from the trunk, and Uncle Marvin proceeded to efficiently change the tire, giving clear instruction the whole way. Took him about 5 minutes to do the job. But then he surprised me when after lowering the car off the jack he turned to me, smiled, handed me the lug wrench and said, “Okay, now you do it.”
And so there, by the side of the road in the middle of the desert with Uncle Marvin looking over my shoulder I changed my first tire. He could have just hustled us back into the car to continue the journey, but instead he allowed what was a 5 minute job to become a 20 minute lesson for his ten year old nephew. He made me important. He took the time.
This is the Uncle Marvin that lives in my memory. This is the man I will always remember with great fondness.
Rest in Peace Uncle Marvin. You will be missed.
Grant Anderson
