Marvin Lee Buckley passed away on October 31, 2007, after a short battle with cancer. His funeral was held November 3 at the Dewey Avenue church building with Dan Kessinger officiating.

All of us face adversities of some kind and wonder why things happen as they do. God uses us for His purposes, and we are not always aware of what He has in mind for us.

When I last talked to Marvin, he said he was ready to go home. That is what it is all about: not a physical home, but an eternal home. Marvin's life was lived in preparation for eternity and to influence others so that heaven would be their home.

He had a wonderful spirit about life. His joy of being a Christian was expressed in word and deed by all those who knew him. Marvin's life was cut short because of illness, but, in his 48 years of life, much was put into it as was expressed by so many at the funeral home and on-line. Some on-line sentiments were: "I had known Marv for many years as a pharmacist colleague at Rite Aid Pharmacy. He was a trusted pharmacist and genuinely good man." "I had worked with Marvin at Super X in Marietta some years ago. He was a man of great integrity, with a wonderful sense of humor." "I will never forget the support and encouragement Marvin gave us during a very difficult time in life." "I had Marvin as a preceptor at Rite Aid, when I was finishing up pharmacy school. I can honestly say that he touched and influenced me not only as a person, but also as a pharmacist, one of the best I had worked with. In the four short weeks I was around, I came to learn how much he adored his wife and son. I remember him for the praise he gave me as a student." "Marvin was a wonderful, compassionate man whom I only knew a short while, but he definitely touched my heart."

Marvin was truly a great Christian man. He realized the value of serving others and left a great legacy of helpfulness. I, as his brother-in-law, knew that I could call upon Marvin for help and he would be there. Expressions of his helpfulness are seen not only in the material things that he made for use at the Dewey Avenue church building in St. Marys, WV, where he served as a deacon and Bible class teacher but also through his work in the community with the Boy Scouts and as a pharmacist at Rite Aid Pharmacy. Marvin lived a life that left a great impact on many in the Ohio Valley.

We realize that we are not the judges of men, but we have been greatly encouraged by a great man and brother in Christ. We know that his life has been precious to so many and it is now that his death is precious in the sight of the Lord.

Continue to pray for his wife, Renee; his son, Alex; his mother, Alice Buckley; and his sisters, Barbara Cooper and Evelyn Dean. Also, pray for his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bob and Colleen Keister; his nephews, Dr. Jason Cooper, Scott Cooper, and Kaine Keister; his nieces, Rachelle Sadler and Amber Daggett; brothers-in-law, Danny Dean and Eddie Cooper. Marvin's untimely death has surely left a vacancy in our lives.

We know that God will comfort all those who are grieved at Marvin's passing, as promised in 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." -1036 Greenland Circle, South Charleston, WV 25309.

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