Marvin B. Bishop Jr.

   Marvin B. Bishop, Jr., 68 of Vernon, died on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015, in Vernon. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Aug. 7, 2015 at the First Baptist Church; Officiating will be Rev. Ron Fox, Chaplain David Kemp. Interment will be held at Wilbarger Memorial Park under the direction of Sullivan Funeral Home.
   Marvin was born Tuesday, July 29, 1947 in Vernon. He was the son of the late Marvin B. Bishop, Sr. and the late Ora Collier Bishop. He married Merlien Hampton on July 21, 1982 in Vernon. He had lived in Vernon all of his life. He was a graduate of Vernon High School in 1965 and attended Texas Tech University.
   He especially loved baseball and was even scouted by several pro teams in his younger years. He umpired softball games and even had his kids upset when he called them out at times or strikes when they were balls. Marvin loved his family most of all. He loved to go visit the kids and grandkids and have cookouts with them and go to Texas Rancher games. Marvin loved to travel with Merlien to Branson, Mo., and they went several times during their marriage. Marvin loved devotional time with Merlien. They read scriptures and books and had prayer time. His favorite prayer was The Lord’s Prayer. He was a member of the First Baptist Church.
   Marvin’s primary work was in the agriculture area where he worked and ran the Vernon Compress for over 30 years. For the past eight years he has been a security officer at the Vernon State Hospital.
   He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Merlien Bishop of the home; his children, Bryan and Debbie Bishop of Keller, Traci Lawrence of Plainview, Krista  and Aaron Orians of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, Jenifer and Preston Kamper  of Rowlett, and Chris Gerred of Burkburnett; 10 grandchildren, Matthew, Brayden, Ethan, Evan, Cade, Keelee, Kristian, Leah, Kyle, and Hayden.
  He was preceded in death by his father, Marvin B. Bishop, Sr. in 2005, and his mother, Ora Mae Bishop in 2001.
   Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015 at Sullivan Funeral Home.
   Memorials can be made to American Cancer Society or favorite charity.
   Online condolences may be made to the family at www.sullivanfuneralhomevernon.com.