Marvin Ray Smith

Marvin Ray Smith was born at home in the Wilson Community, Atoka County, on December 21, 1931. He passed from this life to be with the Lord Jesus Christ April 25, 2015. He was 83 years old. Marvin married the love of his life, his traveling partner, and best friend Cathy Ihrig Smith in January 1982, they were married 33 years. Marvin graduated from Wapanucka High School and attended Murray State College. He was saved and baptized at Wapanucka Baptist Church, he loved attending Victory Life Church in Durant, and Marvin always enjoyed Brother Dwayne’s sermons. Marvin never forgot to give credit to his father for teaching him his work ethic, work hard, finish the job, and do it well and right. This he did throughout his life. Marvin was a self-made man; he started out sweeping shavings in a machine shop, and ended up owning his own machine shop in Ft. Worth employing 150 employees. He always treated his employees fairly, and helped them when they came to him. He later moved back to Wapanucka and started a machine shop business with his son Robin, manufacturing many things including Bell Helicopter parts, Us Postal Service parts and anything else that could be made out of metal. Marvin and Cathy later sold Tape-Matics to Robin and began their wonderful adventures across this great country that included every state in the union. He also raised cattle, and owned many businesses. He was a speed boat racer in his younger years, setting and breaking many speed boat records in his speed boat “Running Bear”. He was a fearless competitor, and loved the challenge of anything he undertook. Marvin won the Golden Glove Championship, which he was very proud of. He never shirked a job, he would make it work no matter what it took, he was a good man, wonderful father, and the best husband anyone could ask for. Always ready to help anyone who called on him, he could be tough when he needed to be, and gentle as a lamb to the stricken. He was named Farmer of the Year in Atoka County; he could make grass grow on any soil. He received his 50 year Mason’s Certificate three years ago. He was a member of the Little Dixie Shriners, Past President of Texoma Men’s golf Association, and in the past served on the Board of Directors of First Bank in Atoka. He was also a member of the Durant Elks Lodge. He lived each week to play golf with his golfing buddies and would always come home with a good story about the game for Cathy. He and Cathy loved camping and RVing, they drove all the way to Alaska and back, East to Nova Scotia, South to the Florida Keys, and all points in between. He always said his best times were driving down the road in the motorhome with Cathy and his dog Punkin. He is preceded in death by his parents Lon and Alma Brumley Smith, two brothers Jerry Smith and Wilburn Smith, and three sisters. Marvin is survived by his wife Cathy of the home, sons Robin Smith and wife Amy of Milburn, Kevin Smith and wife April of Tishomingo, and Clay Reece and wife Tiffany of Dallas, TX and daughter Debbie Harris, one brother Bruce Smith of TX, and three sisters, grandchildren Star Edwards and husband Aaron of Ada, OK, Sheena Baker and husband Ryan of Oklahoma City, Wendy Streeter and husband Tate of Ponatoc, Hunter Reece and Garrett Reece of Dallas, TX, Michael and Michelle Smith of Ardmore. Marvin also had seven wonderful great grandchildren. He had so many friends and will be greatly missed. He was one of a kind, old school salt of the Earth. He never met a stranger and left a lasting impression on whomever he met. We will meet again, with our Lord Jesus Christ. Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm, Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at Brown’s Funeral Service Durant with Russell Washington officiating. Interment will be at Boggy Depot Cemetery with Billy Bokies, Johnny Sweeney, James Dunham, Ronnie Glaze, Rig Thomas, David Gresham, Bobby Rivers and Darrell Markraff serving as pallbearers. PDF Printable Version

Marvin Ray Smith

December 21, 1931 - April 25, 2015