Marvin Leo Carlock, Jr. was born on June 8, 1950 in Benkelman, Nebraska to Marvin and Harriet (Long) Carlock. He was the youngest of five children, along with brothers Stanley, Cheryl, Sandy, and Linda.
Marv attended school in Heigler, Nebraska and graduated from Heigler High School in 1968. He then attended West Nebraska Polytechnic Institute in Sydney, majoring in construction, and later applied that education to Scottsbluff. He returned to Heigler, worked on the ranch, and then began working for his friend Bill Sass at the Conoco Station in Yuma. He then took a job in residential distribution for the Natural Gas Company of Nebraska in Yuma, Kansas. A few years later he transferred to Ray’s gas field maintenance department. He retired from the gas industry after serving his 30 years and changing companies many times. In the same year, Marv built a trailer sales business that was a huge success and was a key sales representative for multiple manufacturers for many years.
Marv was a kind, generous, caring man who gave love, hope, encouragement and laughter wherever he went. He loved his family and friends, rodeos, Nebraska and his football. No one had more stories to share than Marv. He had stories for everything and everyone. He loved helping people. He rents out trailers with a handshake, helps children in every way he asks, donates for all worthy causes, challenges others to match his donations, and runs countless fundraiser and events. I planned. He was an avid supporter (and often an unsolicited coaching advisor). He is a member of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team. He rarely talked about people who couldn’t tell which car they were in at the time.
Marv’s interest in rodeo started early at a local jackpot rodeo. He and Mike Calikrato organized and hosted a bull riding school. Marv and a few friends developed his one of the first call-in his entries for his rodeo events, but his favorite story is his 1980 Mountain States. It was to “save” the circuit final. He and Don Chrismer were among the ambitious few who raised money and arranged to keep the final from being cancelled. Marv is proud to have served as president of the Yuma County Fair and Rodeo from 1995 until 2005. Awarded. During that time he won many awards, but his real trophies were in his friends, connections and memories.
Marv met Mary Ann Sullivan in 1995 on a blind date arranged by the most unlikely matchmaker. The two started a family together in 1999 and got married on June 26, 2014. During that time, they were rarely apart for more than a day or two, until his death on July 7, 2023.
Marv overcame many health challenges with grace and strength. Even on his worst days, he managed to become everyone’s favorite patient. He was blessed with the support of the most wonderful and diverse medical team, many of whom he was happy to call friends and family.
Marv was preceded by his parents Marvin and Harriet Carlock, stepsisters Rodney Schlepp and Russell Miller, and stepfather Don Sullivan. To preserve his memories, Marv kept his wife Mary Ann and (fur child) Katie, his brothers and their families, Stanley and Laneta Carlock, Cheryl and Sid Lail, Sandy, Junior McGree, Linda Miller, and his in-laws. Virginia Sullivan leaves David and Catherine. Sullivan, Donnery & Bill Varner, Dennis Sullivan & Dennis Sullivan, Sheron Sullivan & The Chosen Family, Kurt & Wendy Keeler, Chester & Marcia Zwarn, Ida Heaton, Bruce Courtney, Joy Butt, And my dear friends, more than I can write on this page.
Remember Marv’s kind and generous personality, his teasing, and his willingness to help.
A reception for family and friends will be held on Thursday, July 13, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home in Lay, Colorado.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, July 14, 2023 at Haigler Legion Hall, 135 N. Porter Avenue, Haigler, Nebraska. Burial will take place at Benkelman Cemetery in Benkelman, Nebraska.
A memorial will be erected at the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund or Regent Park Nursing & Rehabilitation & Carriage House, 816 S. Interocean Avenue, Holyoke, Colorado 80734.
Tributes are requested to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund or Regent Park Nursing and Rehabilitation.
Schmidt Jones Funeral Home427 Adams Street, Wray, Colorado 80758 was commissioned to arrange.
