8 Jan 1938 – 20 Oct 2019
Husband of Janice Christensen
Marvin John Loar 81, died peacefully at home surrounded by family and loved ones October 20, 2019. Marvin was born in Farmington, NM on January 8, 1938. He married his sweetheart, Janice Christensen Loar on December 19, 1961, for time and all eternity in the Mesa, AZ Temple.
He was loved and adored by all who knew him. He lived a life full of faith, sacrifice, service and love. He will be greatly missed. Marvin is preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Janice Christensen Loar and his sons Shaun David Loar and Shannon Mark Loar.
He is survived by five children. Sheldon Lee (Sherry) Loar, Sherwin Von (Tylene) Loar, Shane Merrill (Laura) Loar, Shalynn Kenneth (Allison) Loar, and Sherri Ann (Shane) Merkley. He is also survived by 22 adoring grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
Visitation is scheduled for Friday, October 25, 2019, from 7-9pm at the Bunker Funeral Home, 3529 E. University Dr. Mesa, AZ 85213. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 26, 2019, at 11am with visitation from 10-10:30am prior to services at the LDS church building, located at 41426 N. Barnes Parkway, Queen Creek, AZ 85140.
-Published at Bunker Family Funerals: https://www.bunkerfuneral.com/obituaries/marvin-john-loar/
and at AZCentral: https://www.azcentral.com/obituaries/par032175
Life Sketch of Marvin John Loar
Given by Marvin H. Christensen (Jan’s brother), at Marv Loar’s funeral, October 26, 2019
About 2005, Marvin completed his personal history and had it printed. He titled it, Wait Until Evening, from a quote by Sophocles which reads, “One must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day has been.” Marvin passed away on the evening of Sunday, October 20, 2019. In reviewing his splendid life, we refer to his Marv-elous autobiography:
Marvin John Loar was born January 8, 1938, in the hospital in Farmington, New Mexico. His parents, Cora
Edna Barnes Loar and Merril Leonadas Loar lived in the small community of La Plata, New Mexico, some 15 to 20 miles from Farmington. Marvin was the youngest of four children, his sister Iona who was 14, brother Eldon who was 12, and Ann who was 8 when Marvin was born.
Merril Loar, lovingly called ‘Pappy,’ was a pillar in their small community. For a time he ran a general store,
and farmed. For years he was a favorite of the teenagers who boarded his big yellow school bus for the trip to and from Farmington High School. He also delivered local milk to a Farmington dairy processing facility.
Marvin’s mother Cora, as a child had survived a dreaded outbreak of Encephalitis, leaving her with
impairments for the rest of her life. Marvin stated, “My earliest memories are of sitting by mom as she lay in bed, talking with her and learning from her. I was quick to learn, and a good companion for her. We’d talk and laugh and play cards and checkers, and she’d read me stories… She taught me to make believe…Most important, she taught me a strict moral code of right and wrong, and she taught me to pray… These simple, quiet teaching and sharing moments with my mother were the foundation stones of my character, and were of inestimable value in my future life… I’ve often pondered the incomparable superiority of a mother’s time with her children over that of anyone else who might be chosen to teach them.” Of his parents, Marvin said, “They were totally devoted to each other and to their children. He was her hero…She was his joy.”
Pappy Loar, though a military veteran, re-enlisted after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, hoping for a stable
income for his family. He was away from them for two years. During this time, Iona went away to college and Eldon enlisted in the Navy, so 12-year-old Ann and 4-year-old Marvin had the main responsibility of caring for their mother and their home. Ann attended school during the day and also had an evening job as janitor at the small school across the road. Their mother’s health rapidly deteriorated. Marvin’s history reads, “With Ann off to school during the day, and working as janitor in the evenings, Mom and I lived out our days quietly and alone. There were seldom any other people around, and there was evidently some talk of having me placed in an institution or foster home. How fortunate for me that it didn’t happen. I was totally content and happy, and had a pleasant childhood. I have no memory of cruelty or abuse of any kind. I was loved.”
The war ended, and Marvin’s dad returned home. The years that followed were good years for this humble family. One of Marvin’s fondest memories was the evening when his dad came home from work with a surprise for him, a cocker spaniel dog they named Butch. Within a few days Marvin and Butch were
inseparable and remained so for the next 13 years. Marvin said, “No one ever had a more faithful
companion… When my time comes to cross over into the Spirit World, [Butch] is among the first individuals I’ll long to see again, and I’m confident he’ll be waiting there by the road to meet me.”
Marvin’s recorded memories of his teen years are mostly pleasant and happy. Even though initially bashful and feeling socially awkward, he was a good student. His brother Eldon was concerned for Marvin’s growth and development and helped him get a job. In 1955, in the spring of his senior year, Marvin became involved with the conversations of his Latter-day Saint friends on the bus and at school. He was approached by a local stake missionary couple, who invited him to learn about the Church of Jesus Christ, to which he agreed. Several missionary lessons later and after praying and receiving the quiet confirmation that it was right, his parents consented, and Marvin joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and thus began his new way of life.
A few months later at his high school graduation, Marvin was invited to assist across the stage a certain
graduate girl who was a victim of polio and used a brace and crutch. Her name was Janice Christensen. Little did they know at that time the significance of taking that walk across the stage together! Their association deepened over the next few years as they attended BYU and then corresponded during his 2½ year mission to the Samoan Islands from February 1958 to August 1960.
Elder Loar’s experiences as a new missionary in those humble and remote Islands so far from La Plata, New Mexico further shaped his soul. One hurdle was learning the language, which he finally mastered by having a local sister write a detailed prayer. He then took that two-page prayer and used it as a key to understand and learn to speak by the Spirit. Thus through the Language of Prayer he became a fluent and gifted missionary. His journal of that experience bespeaks his love for the people and for the Lord. Marvin’s personality, his fun-loving ways, his skills in strumming the ukulele and singing their music, all brought him close to and loved by those around him.
Upon leaving Samoa to come home, he wrote that he didn’t dwell on the difficult struggle of trying to
communicate in the strange jabbering language… or the hordes of mosquitoes, the bouts of dysentery, the boils, elusive fevers..or walking, hot and sweaty, for hours on end along mountain trails, trying to ignore how badly his feet hurt…. His mind, instead, wandered back to those happy sociable people, as they laughed and talked with their mouths full, and slapped their legs as they reveled in humorous stories…and of faithful native leaders who trudged forward in the work of the Church…and the deep brown eyes and white smiles of their scout boys…but most of all, Marvin said, “I remembered the unspeakable joy I’d experienced as I saw the eyes of dull, ordinary, sometimes deviant-natured people ‘light up’ when they heard the story of the restoration of the Gospel as the Spirit bore witness to their souls“.
After returning from Samoa, and having made a previous decision to meet his military obligation, Marvin
enlisted in the Army Reserves and was off to basic training in January of 1961. His other goal was to continue in college at BYU, where he returned after his military training. In the midst of all this, his love for Janice continued to grow and finally they were married and sealed for time and eternity in the Mesa Arizona Temple on December 19, 1961. A sweet footnote to this memorable day was that Marvin’s parents, now baptized active members of the Church, attended the temple with him and Jan, for the first time, receiving their endowments and being sealed the same day…together!
From this milestone in their lives came happy years and challenges for the new Mr. & Mrs. Loar. He was
determined to provide for a family by completing his degree. True to his tenacious spirit, Marvin worked at whatever jobs he could to finish that degree at BYU, including various kinds of sales jobs and working as an orderly at the Utah State Mental Hospital. For a few years, Marvin and Janice housed young single college students in their home to help with the expenses. However, I think the benefit for Marv and Jan was not as great as the benefit to the students whose greatest education was attained in that daily living, sharing, working, singing, laughing … and sometimes a little studying!
In the meantime, Marv and Jan welcomed into their college lives their first two sons, Sheldon Lee, born in
June of 1963 and Sherwin Von who was born in October of 1964. A few months later, Marvin finished his
bachelor’s degree at BYU, after which they moved their growing family back home to Farmington, New Mexico, where he went into the insurance business, then into multi-level marketing in the field of nutrition. Marvin served in numerous Church callings, particularly in many capacities with the youth who enjoyed him. In addition, he taught early-morning seminary for several years. Marvin’s influence with the youth was outstanding, as has been voiced by many over the years. In April of 1966, their third son, Shane Merrill, was born, and then a fourth son, Shaun David in January of 1969.
It was at this juncture that an earthly angel entered the lives of the Loar family. “Aunt Gertrude,” as she was lovingly called, was a middle-aged widow, whose son had been a seminary student of Marvin’s. She offered to come to the house in the mornings to help Jan get the kids up and going for the day. Over time she ended up staying most of the day and helping with laundry, tidying up, and other household needs. Marvin stated, “Without her, we would never have been able to raise our children.” Also, of great help to Marv and Jan were her younger sister and brother, Maureen and Mark, and of course her parents were always a great support, as were many other family members on many occasions.
Aunt Gertrude came on the scene at a crucial time, as just under a year since the birth of Shaun, their fifth
baby boy made his appearance in December of that same year. He was named Shannon Mark. Marvin was a hard-working devoted husband and father and a dedicated servant of the Lord, always rendering service in any capacity that he could. His genuine concern for others in need often meant extra mouths to feed at the dinner table and many many times, accommodations for those needing a temporary home. In fact, in later years, after making a count, Marvin and Janice realized that, other than family, they had had over 80 individuals over the years live in their home for various periods of time. Each of those individuals left that home feeling valued, and having had far more than just their physical needs met. And as a result, several eventually became members of the Church.
Early in 1970, Marvin’s discouragement over years of less-than-ideal business ventures led him to much
prayer and fasting for answers. He was encouraged by family to approach personnel in the Church
Educational System to apply to teach Seminary. Shortly, he was informed that he was hired for the following school year to teach in Star Valley, Wyoming. Once again, this family faithfully began to gird up for another change in their lives.
However, another challenge came first, in the form of hepatitis which hit Marvin very hard and caused him to delay his new teaching position by a month that fall of 1970. But as always, he and his family persevered and soon were settling into their new mountain environment, making major improvements as needed to the two different homes they lived in during their years in Afton, Wyoming. In December of 1971, Shalynn Kenneth was born there in Afton. And in August of 1973, Jan and Marv’s family became complete as they welcomed their seventh child and first daughter, Sherri Ann into their lives. Aunt Gertrude again came to the rescue to help out for several months after each of these last two babies was born. The family continued in faith and love, the children grew and Marv often included the boys in side jobs he worked at, especially in the summers.
Soon the Loar family relocated to Midvale and then Granger, Utah, where Marvin continued to teach. These were good but challenging years as the kids grew, the finances remained tight, and Jan experienced problems with her paralyzed leg, making the cold winters very difficult to manage. Marvin received a confirmation that he needed to request a transfer to the warmer climate in Arizona, where Jan’s parents and several other family members were living. This request was honored, and 1980 found the Loars moving to Mesa, Arizona.
A home was found, and all become busily involved with life, and Jan’s health began to improve. Marv enjoyed his CES assignment and as always, kept busy also in Church assignments and activities.
In June of 1981, Marvin volunteered to drive to Flagstaff to pick up a group of their ward’s scouts returning from hiking the Grand Canyon. Heading home on the freeway, tragedy struck as a drunken driver careened up the wrong side of the freeway, head on into Marvin’s station wagon, carrying Shaun and Shannon, the Explorer Leader, the Young Men President, and three scouts. Four of the passengers were killed instantly, including Shaun and Shannon. Marvin, was miraculously alive but with a shattered hip, broken ribs, punctured lungs, shattered liver, an injured kidney and multiple head injuries. Several weeks later he was finally conscious but still in the hospital when Jan related to him the details of what had happened, including the funeral for their sons. Even in the midst of this tragedy in their lives, Marv and Jan recognized the many miracles which occurred at just the right moment which resulted in his rescue from the demolished car. They felt the Spirit of comfort fill their aching hearts, as they acknowledged the Lord’s hand in every detail, including the sudden absence of their young, almost-twin boys who in life had never been apart and who in death had gone together. Marvin stated, “..never before had we drawn so fully on our faith and knowledge of Gospel principles.”
Marvin’s recovery was a long one, and healing of the multitude of injuries was painful and slow. His goal to return to the rigors of the classroom in full strength was a challenge that was more than he and Jan felt wise. So Marv elected to take other employment. Over a period of some four years, he struggled with over a dozen jobs and projects. A chapter in Marvin’s history of his life is entitled, “We Hang On,” and includes the statement by Frank and Ernest, “I’m going to give up trying to get ahead, so I can concentrate on slowing down the rate at which I’m falling behind.”
Meanwhile, the boys continued to grow and one by one filled honorable missions. Sherri Ann grew into a
lively, lovely young woman. After their missions, Sherwin and Shane encouraged Marvin to try the car sales business, which he did. Marvin said that life on the car lot was tough, but he learned to enjoy it. He seemed to have found his niche and settled into the weekly routine. This employment saw Marvin and his family through the 1990s and eventually the marriages of each of the five children, as Sherry Lynn, Tylene, Laura, Allison, and Shane Merkley were welcomed into this Marv-elous family. Marvin continued serving as called in various Church positions. It became Marv and Jan’s privilege to reciprocate a little to Aunt Gertrude, as they invited her into their home to live in her aging years. In 1996 Marvin volunteered to teach institute in the state prison in Florence as a part-time service missionary. He experienced great satisfaction in his work there and Marvin said he learned to love criminals!
By the time their family was raised, Marv and Jan discussed serving a senior couple mission. Some of the
messages given in April 2001 general conference had a powerful impact on the whole family, not only on Marv and Jan, as they considered going on a mission. Their children told them, “Whatever you need financially, we’ll make up. There are five of us, and we’re all ready to help.”
And so it was that Elder and Sister Loar were SENT TO PRISON for 18 months…in the Gunnison UT Men’s
Correctional Facility as a CES Institute support couple. This new experience together proved to be a highlight of their lives as Marvin and Janice each taught several doctrinal classes a week and before long had endeared themselves to everyone there. They extended this mission twice, to a total of 30 months.
The years following this mission experience eventuated in Marv and Jan being invited permanently into the homes of their incredible children, living several months a year in Idaho then the other months in Arizona. This arrangement worked out well for them and afforded them the opportunity to have valued one-on-one time with each of their growing grandchildren in their homes. In 2009, Jan’s health began to deteriorate and she required oxygen to keep going. By December she required hospitalization, and in January 2010, in Mesa, Arizona, after a courageous, faithful and eventful life, she passed to the other side.
Marvin had spent his young life caring for his mother. As a young man, he fell in love with and made the
conscious choice to marry a girl who would also need his exceptional care. He assisted Jan with all her
personal needs, including learning to curl and style her hair. He did a major portion of the housekeeping,
cooking and laundry. He supported her in doing all she was able, and he teased her and made her laugh. He welcomed seven beautiful children into his life. He walked those colicky babies at night and changed their diapers, and taught them to obey and to have faith and to serve; they learned by his example. He never ceased to give his all to provide for his family. He also extended his fun-loving, caring nature to multitudes of individuals along his life’s path, always reaching out to someone who needed a helping hand or a friend. He teased and joked and taught and played and worked his way into many hearts.
Marvin became quite a different person after Jan died. To many of us, it seemed that he had lost his spark.
He didn’t joke quite as often. His memory began to fail and his mobility decreased. But he endured and his family buoyed him up, and in his final months they extended unequaled love in caring for him in their homes.
Recently Marvin’s brother-in-law, Dru Wyeth observed: “Marvin Loar to my knowledge was not successful in business or worldly accolades, but when it comes to wife and family, our most important work, there aren’t many who have been more successful….The proof that Marvin had the love of God in his heart lies in the legacy of his children. Though each may have their trials and troubles, they are all happy and a living testimony and tribute to their father! Marvin’s legacy lives on in the lives of his posterity!”
Marvin John Loar is survived by his sister, Ann, four sons and one daughter, 22 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, in-laws and outlaws, and friends, all of whom are grateful to have known him and loved him and will miss him.
“One must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day has been.”
Marvin and his day were SPLENDID!
Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery, Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona
