Marvin Keith Gordy
Marvin Keith Gordy, 85, of Beaumont, died Sunday, November 13, 2022. He was born on May 24, 1937, to Opal Farris and Marvin Curry Gordy.
Friends have said:
“He was one of a kind.”
“They broke the mold after him.”
“What a character!”
“A fine gentleman.”
His sayings:
“Ride ‘em like you stole ‘em.”
“You’d make a freight train take a muddy road.”
“With God as my witness!”
“You can take a fork and gouge your eyes out boy, ‘cuz you’ve seen it all now.”
“Well, if that don’t tear the rag off a dead bush.”
Daddy was riding horses from the time he could walk. His horse ran away from Ashley Street when he was six. It was found in Port Acres and his father drove him there with a sack lunch, put him on the horse and told him, “I’ll see you at home after work”. Daddy rode that horse to Beaumont and had to get off to lead it across some water. An old guy sitting outside on College Street looked up and said, “Wouldn’t it be better if you were riding that horse?” That six-year-old boy looked at that old man and said, “Well, I would, but I can’t get back on it!”
Daddy’s determination and drive to complete a task would serve him well. Along with earning his Eagle Scout, Daddy received both The God and Country and The Order of the Arrow awards, two of the highest awards bestowed by the Boy Scouts of America.
Daddy served in the U. S. Army Reserves and truly loved his country.
His accomplishments include earning a B. A. and a B. S. in Architecture from Rice University with honors. He was awarded the M. N. Davidson traveling fellowship for graduating first in his class. He was a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. He designed a number of landmarks around Southeast Texas, including the Downtown Beaumont Public and R. C. Miller libraries, the Dishman Art Gallery at Lamar University, and Sea Rim State and Beaumont’s Riverfront Parks.
He took his 56 years of marriage vows to heart. He was a wonderful caregiver to his beautiful wife, Susan, who courageously battled cancer for 10 years.
Daddy decided to pick up a new hobby in his 40’s. He became a player-member of the Houston Polo Club and United States Polo Association. After he hung up his polo mallets, he traded his string of polo ponies for hunter/jumpers and took up “riding to the hounds.” He was a proud member and Joint Master of Kanada Foxhounds (with colors) TX, Honorary Lifetime Member of Bull Run Hunt (with colors) Culpepper County, VA, Rappahannock Hunt, VA, Honorary Master Birmingham Hunt, VA, and Member of Masters of Foxhounds Association of America.
Member of Texas Society of Architects, American Institute of Architects, Beaumont Rotary Club, Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, Beaumont Country Club, Tower Club.
Trustee of Beaumont Heritage Society, Jefferson Theater Preservation Society, Beaumont Rotary Club Foundation.
Past offices include President-Southeast Texas Chapter-American Institute of Architects, Vice President and Director of Gulf Coast Conservation Society, Elder-First Christian Church, President-Rice Alumni Association, Golden Triangle, Treasurer and Director, Southeast Texas Chapter of American Institute of Architects.
Daddy loved his dogs and horses and was in complete awe of all of God’s creations. He worked tirelessly to make his beloved Dewdrop a showplace for friends and a tranquil place of solitude for his family and himself. He said, “If you don’t believe in God, just look around.”
His three girls could go on and on, but in the words of MKG, he was, “In short, a hell of a guy!”
He was preceded in death by the love of his life of 56 years, Susan Dunagan Gordy and his parents Opal Farris Gordy and Marvin Curry Gordy.
He is survived by his daughters Johanna Gordy Brown (Matthew), Jennifer Gordy, Sara Gordy and his grandchildren Harrison, Margeaux, Frances Brown, Catherine and Reid (Riley) Swantner, Blake and Baxter Ferguson.
A Memorial Service for Mr. Gordy will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 19, 2022, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 680 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont.
Memorial contributions for Mr. Gordy may be made to St Mark’s Episcopal Church, 680 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77701.
Memorial Service
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
- 680, Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas, 77701,
- November 19, 2022
- 2:00 pm
May God Bless Sara!
Jennifer,
I am so sorry for your loss. I had the joy of interacting with your father so much the past few years. He was one that you looked forward to greeting every time you saw him. Never a negative outlook, loved life and loved people. Solid, solid man and a wonderful family.
Marvin and Susan were so special. I loved his slow cadence in speaking, his love of his grandchildren, children and beautiful Susan – not to mention his energy and love of horses! He leaves big footprints to fill – actually, larger than life ones that no one can fill. He was so special in so many, many ways.
Rhew and I could not attend the memorial service, but Joe Bob Kinsel was kind to call this morning and tell us all about it. We wish we could have been there in tribute to Marvin. We were there in spirit and send our love to Jennifer, Johanna, and Sarah.
Love, Sally
So sorry for your loss. We really loved him up here in Virginia!! I actually have a jump named after him in our back pasture, which isn’t a great thing to be honored with having a jump named after you. But, it always makes me think of him so I guess that’s ok!! xx
I can’t remember not knowing Marvin and I’m sure like all the others have some funny stories about him. He loved everything and everyone in. “BIG” way. If it’s possible he will be missed in even a “bigger” way. Sending my love and prayers to family and friends and I am envisioning him slow dancing with Susan and riding like he stole em????❤️
Johanna, Jennifer, and Sara,
Your dad was priceless and colorful, and he was my friend. He always an infectious grin.
He asked me once, apropos of nothing, “And what do you think of MY wife?” He’s doing it now.
I had the great pleasure of hunting and forming a long friendship with Marvin from the first trip to Virginia. We still talked once or twice a year. Always talked hunting and and family!!! Sorry I can’t be there tomorrow to meet all of his family but would love to talk with his daughters sometime. Hugs and sympathies to all of you!! Tally ho!!!! Oliver Brown MFH. Rappahannock Hunt
Marvin and Susan were some of our best friends in life…..there are so many memories…..fishing, hunting, Waldemar memories, Beaumont High School, children, on and on…..I will miss Marvin and Susan together and individually they were my heart loves…..M
To Big Daddy’s girls and grandchildren: Your parents and grandparents were both one of a kind. Susan spoke of Marvin and the DewDrop with that smirk on her face, while shaking her head side to side – as if she could change a thing about either. And Marvin’s dedicated and devotion to “SuSu”, especially during her illness, was so heart warming. Our joke with the girls: He loved each of his children almost as much as those dogs and horses. ????. Love you all! GA
I was Mr. Marvin Gordy’s barber for several years and i will not only miss him i will miss all those wonderful and interesting stories! I always looked forward to cutting his hair, He was a really good guy!!
God rest your soul sweet man.
He was always a pleasure to deal with when working on his mules. Just saw him less than two weeks ago. Hate to hear of his passing. Prayers and peace to his family.
Marvin, you will be truly missed. What a unique man. You made foxhunting in Texas such fun. It was great to see you in Scotland too, we enjoyed being your host.
Marvin (BIG DADDY) is my brother from another mother. Regarding DEWDROP, his heart place: — “If you don’t believe in GOD, just look around.”
Ride tall – HE – is always watching!!!!
Marvin was a neat man. I enjoyed being in Beaumont with him since our days at
Beaumont High School. Reading his obituary I
realized he had a full life. My condolence to all his family.
Marvin taught me to truly enjoy the life I now live. So many tales that I have no room here. I truly loved this man.
My world will certainly not be the same. Marvin taught me how to enjoy so much of the life that I now enjoy. Could tell so many stories but just lack of room I truly loved this man
Johanna, Jennifer and Sara,
I am so, so sorry about the loss of your dad. He really was one of a kind. His humor and strength will be missed by everyone he touched in his long life, but will live on through you all. Your parents were both exceptional people as are their girls. Love to you all.
Marvin was just a wonderful man !
Very highly thought of, a great person to know, a friend. Someone that makes you smile. I will miss him terribly and think of him often. God Bless.
Marvin was a friend of mine. To say one of a kind is an under statement . I was proud to be his friend and banker. He “gave/sold” me more than one horse. We had many rides together.
Sorry to hear of Marvin’s passing. Our firm had the opportunity to work on many of Gordy Huffines projects over the past 40 years. He was a great Architect and a great person. Lord, I pray you grant the Gordy family comfort during their time of sorrow and always let your light be upon them…. In Jesus’s name I pray…. Amen.
Lee & Gina Acevedo
A & A Electric Co.
Marvin was a wonderful friend to me and my family for over 50 years. We shared so many great times together fishing , hunting, riding horses ,and maybe most memorable, just sitting around visiting like old friends love to do. I will miss them all in the years to come but I will cherish every memory forever. Yes, my friend, you were truly one of a kind.
Joe Bob
Marvin was a great friend and will be so missed!! He encouraged me to head to Virginia to Foxhunt and I have loved it ever since. Kick On Marvin!!
Marvin K. Gordy, certainly one of a kind and the photograph captures him perfectly. For 44 years Marvin was a client to our firm but more importantly a friend to me. He sponsored me for the Downtown Rotary Club. He gave us our first large project – the RC Miller Memorial Library. I worked on all the projects mentioned above including the “Dewdrop”, and many more. After burning the midnight oil to finish a project he would often reward the design team with a fishing trip. I vicariously lived “polo and hound hunting” thru Marvin, including the broken collar bone. Jennifer, Johanna, and Sara, my condolences, I grieve with you. I will always have many fond memories of your Dad, MKG. May you have comfort knowing he will RIP, after finally designing and seeing constructed, a building with “rounded corners”.
Marvin was a highly respected architect in Southeast Texas who served as an inspiration for us young architects that were coming up.
He will be missed.
Dear Jennifer,
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your Dad. I didn’t know he was born on my 3rd birthday. I knew him because Billy and Barbara Hufhines were our first friends when we moved to Beaumont. He is not dead, because he will live in the hearts of his daughters and grandchildren. Just remember the good times.
Love you, Ron
Dear Johanna, Jennifer and Sara:
We will all smile every time we think of Marvin, he had that effect on people. In that way, he will live on through all of us. Sending our love to you.
The Holter Family
Dear Johanna, Jennifer, and Sara,
Sending much love from our family to yours . Thinking about you, Love, Nena
I’m so sorry to hear of Marvin’s passing. I worked for almost 20 years in the same building as Gordy and Huffhines. He always made his homemade eggnog for the Christmas party! My thoughts and prayers are with his daughters. .
Jennifer, so sorry to hear about your loss. I will be praying for you and your family.
-Daniel
Please know there are a bunch of Virginia foxhunters sending prayers your way. “Marvin K Gordy, from Beaumont Texas” was a true joy and we will miss him a lot.
When I read that he was part of Gordy and Huffines, I realized what a small world this is. Many years ago I did a project with the company. One of the best Architectural firms I have worked with. I wish your family well, strength and hope that you have great memories to carry with you. My prayers are with you.
Deeply saddened by the loss of my cousin. We had many good times during Christmas in Hornbeck and Beaumont. RIP Marvin Keith..prayers for all
Jennifer
Soheila & I are praying for God to give you the patience to deal with your loss.
Marvin was a great man and will truly be missed.
Joanna, Jennifer and Sara,
I was so sorry to hear about your dad. May you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers for today and always.
I remember having so much fun at your house in high school. Great memories!!!
Love,
Ann
Marvin was a great friend. He introduced me to the joy of fox hunting and to many adventurers. God Bless