Marlin R. Henson, 89, lifelong area resident and businessman, died Sunday evening, Feb. 28, 2010, at Memorial Hospital of Texas County.
Marlin Ray Henson was born Aug. 7, 1920, in Boise City, Oklahoma to Mattie D. (Nall) and Durward B. Henson. He and his brother, Burley Henson, attended Sunny Slope school and later Boise City schools. Marlin began his working years at the age of 10 and worked through the Dirty Thirties and the Great Depression. His first paying job was as the Boise City Western Union messenger boy and later worked at the Hall Drug Store. While in high school he worked at the grocery store and moonlighted at the Palace Theater. He also helped the local funeral director, which sent him on his chosen career path. After graduating from Williams Institute of Mortuary Science, Kansas City, he began an apprenticeship before enlisting in the United State Navy in 1942. Stationed in Pearl Harbor, Marlin served as a Chief Pharmacists Mate and the Chief Master of Arms in the Southwest Pacific.
After the War, Marlin began working for funeral homes in Kansas. It was in Newton, Kansas, that he noticed a “good looking little gal that walked by the funeral home every morning.” That girl was Imogene C. Mathiot and Marlin arranged for proper introduction at a church dinner. Jeanne and Marlin were married on Sept. 12, 1948, in Marion, Kansas.
The Hensons moved with one-year-old daughter Janet to Guymon, Oklahoma, in 1952, where they, with the help of the community, purchased the McElroy Funeral Home, which became Henson Funeral Home with the later partnership of Loyd Peterson.
A son, Robert Ray Henson blessed their lives in 1954. The Hensons were busy with family, business, church and community activities. Marlin was an active member at Victory Memorial United Methodist Church, where he served as Lay Leader, Chairman of Council of Ministries, and was active in Methodist Men. Marlin was a member of the American Legion, served as past president of the Guymon Lions Club, Panhandle Lions Club and the Guymon Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, #335, AF&AM, the Scottish Rite Consistory, Guthrie and the India Shrine, Oklahoma City.
Retiring in 1990, he and Jeanne continued church and community service and enjoyed traveling. Marlin was honored as the 2005 Pioneer Day Parade Marshal.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jeanne Henson; daughter, Janet and husband, Bud Blackmore of Midway, Utah; son, Robert Henson and wife, Marlene of Guymon; four grandchildren, Jeffrey Blackmore and wife, Julie of Houston, TX, and Dr. Mark and Ashley Blackmore of Dallas, TX; Jamie Leathers and husband, Kody and Nicole Hillman, all of Boise, Idaho; two great granddaughters, Emily and Sarah Blackmore; sister-in-law, Lois and husband, Al Chill of Guymon and numerous other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Burley Henson, in 1995.
Visitation will be Tuesday, 12 noon to 8:00 PM and Wednesday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Memorial services will follow at 11:00 A.M. at Victory Memorial United Methodist Church, with Rev. Barry Bennett and Dr. Michael Burkett, officiating. Interment will be in Elmhurst Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to the Shriners Hospital for Children or Victory Memorial United Methodist Church, c/o Henson-Novak Funeral Directors, P.O. Box 1306, Guymon, OK 73942.
