Marvin "Sonny" Dove Jr.'s Obituary
Marvin Dove, known to many as Sonny, passed away on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the age of 82.
He had just had a successful heart surgery a month prior to his death and was excited about his renewed strength, he had even hopped in his truck and made a run to the grocery store only a couple weeks after heart surgery, almost giving his wife a heart attack.
Sadly, just a few days before his death, he started having abdominal pain and was rushed by ambulance to the hospital where it was established that his intestines had ruptured and there was nothing they could do. He was surrounded by his loving family when he took his last breath.
Mr. Dove was born as Marvin Edward Dove, Jr. on August 28, 1942, in Dalhart, Texas to parents Elda June (McAren) Dove and Marvin Edward Dove, Sr. He was the 2nd child of 5 children. Marvin adored his family and was extremely close to his last living sibling, Cynthia Ann Dove of Amarillo, Texas. He was proceeded in death by his other 3 siblings, sisters: Linda Mae (Dove) Koreth and Elda Darlene (Dove) Lineman and brother: Charles Edgar Dove.
Marvin was born and raised in Dalhart, Texas, his family moved from Dalhart to Amarillo, Texas in 1955, he was a hard worker and was known to have had several jobs at a time: mowing lawns, delivering papers and picking up any odd jobs a young kid could find along the way.
He attended Amarillo High School where he played football, he had such a heart for the game. He said when he was on the field, all the stress from life would just disappear. Marvin also loved watching football and was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan! He would often laughingly say how terrible they were but stayed loyal and true, as he was with everything in life.
After high school, Marvin decided to join the US Army. He was a machine gunner. He received awards for: Sharpshooter (rifle), Second Class Gunner Flame Thrower and Sharpshooter (bar). He enjoyed his time in the military and excelled in every area. Marvin loved his country dearly and had already submitted his absentee ballot to vote worried that he would not have the strength to stand in line on election day.
After his service, Marvin took up bull riding, he absolutely loved it, so much so that he continued bull riding for over 13 years and has a few buckles to show for it!
Marvin met a beautiful blue-eyed girl in September of 1968, in his words, she made him work hard for her attention. She was a young single mother of 3 young children from a previous marriage at the time and her only focus was providing for them. After many months of trying, he finally won her heart and made her his wife. He married Barbara Linn (Tapp) Dove on January 10, 1969, and went on to adopt her 3 children. She was the love of his life; they had been married for 55 years!
Marvin and Barbara went on to have 2 more daughters who adored him: Denise DeLinn Dove of Broken Arrow, OK and Danna Danette (Dove) Wise of Broken Arrow, OK. His 2 daughters blessed them with 7 beautiful grandchildren: Michael Dean Butler, Jr., Matthew Daniel Butler, Joshua Brendan Butler, Jeremiah Bryson Butler, Gregory Wayne Smith, Melissa Louise Smith, William Hunter Wise, and 2 beautiful great-grandsons Brighton and Eden.
Soon after Marvin married, he felt compelled to load up his family and go to church one day. He tells the story of how a guest missionary was there the day they went, and it was the most boring service he had ever attended. However, that did not keep him from going to the altar when the invitation was given and giving his heart to the Lord. His whole world changed that day, soon after he felt called to ministry and started his journey of studying the bible. Over the years he traveled and preached in many little country churches and pastored a couple as well all while continuing to work full-time. He loved God with his whole heart and wanted to tell as many people as he could about him. His favorite thing to do was pray and he was an avid prayer warrior! He married many people and buried many people in his lifetime and was a huge source of encouragement to many.
After many years in Texas, Marvin moved his family to Oklahoma in 1980 to manage a ranch. He was a successful ranch manager for others for many years until finally buying his own little ranch in Vinita, Oklahoma. He loved working his cattle, riding his horses and tending to his garden. He enjoyed country life to the fullest!
Marvin had a very successful career moving up through the ranks from a top-notch fitter welder to a corporate safety director, he spent a good portion of his career at Matrix Service Company in Catoosa, OK and Tank Connections in Parsons, Kansas. He was responsible for the safety of over 750 men, it is said that he knew every single one of his employees by name. He loved them dearly and prayed for them daily. They loved him as well but were also aware that he would write them up in a heartbeat if they ever put themselves or someone else in danger.
Marvin had several hobbies he enjoyed. In his earlier days he loved lifting weights and running. He told his wife the first time that he watched “Forrest Gump” that was me! When I was younger, and things were tough I would just take off running and not stop. He also loved playing his guitar and singing and even recorded a couple of songs.
Marvin adored his family; he had the privilege of marrying his beautiful niece: Tammy LA Trice (Dove) Elliott and her husband Robert Allen (Bobby) Elliott of Amarillo, TX many years ago and they are still happily married to this day. It was his first wedding, and he would always smile and say he tied that knot tight!
Marvin also deeply loved his nephew; Charles Edward (Charlie) Dove and his great nephews; Rylan Charles Dove and wife Brittany Dove, Allen Charles (Ace) Elliott and Blaze Todd Elliott and wife Steffanie (Cordova) Elliott. He was also blessed with several great-great nieces and nephews; Traeson Elliott, Tatelyn Elliott, Layne Elliott, Raegan Elliott and Parker Elliott, all of Amarillo. Marvin had a huge family that included many wonderful cousins, too many to name that he loved furiously!
Marvin never met a stranger; he saw good in everyone and had a heart of compassion. He was positive, kind-hearted and as one of his grandsons recently described him, a gentle soul. He was extremely humble and aware that he made many mistakes in his life, and he talked often about how grateful he was for God’s grace! He would want to leave you with this: God is a God of grace and mercy, and he can and will forgive you even if you feel like you don’t deserve it. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
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