G . Marc Stockman of De Leon, age 95, passed away around 4 a.m. on Monday, November 18, 2019, at the De Leon Nursing & Rehab Center in De Leon. He had been on Hospice since September and died of complications from pneumonia and Parkinson's Disease.

Marc was born on September 6, 1924, in Gorman, Texas, to Harold & Willi Vei Ham Stockman. (Willi Vei's parents, Marc's maternal grandparents, helped found De Leon. "Ham Street" is named after them.)

Although he visited Texas often, Marc and his family lived in Stow, Ohio, for most of his growing up years. He graduated from Stow High School in 1942 and attended Taylor University the next fall. During World War II, he served as a drill sergeant in the Army-Airforce base in Casablanca.

On May 28, 1948, he married Colleen Rae Fairbee, and they visited De Leon for their honeymoon. It was so hot that year they hung bags of ice from the windows to try to keep cool. Marc and Colleen and their family farmed in Indiana and Missouri before moving to Texas in 1976, and Marc began driving a truck. He retired in the spring of 1995 when he was 70 years old.

At the heart of Marc's life was his love for the Lord. Although Marc grew up in a Christian home, it wasn't until he was 26 that he dedicated his life to Christ. In his words, he related the experience this way: "I'd been listening to Billy Graham at home by myself during the middle of the day. I was convicted that I should give up doing my own thing—that I should no longer live independently of God… that I should accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who had died on the cross for the sins of the world. From that day on, my thoughts and values were different. I was more aware of right and wrong. Now and then things would happen to convince me that God was with me, revealing His presence and protection."

His favorite passage from the Bible, the one he said that "topped all others" was Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Although Marc did many kind and generous deeds for his family, neighbors and friends, he never felt he would gain eternal life through anything he did. He knew he could claim friendship with God only through the mercy and grace of the Lord, which was granted to him as a gift.

Marc was preceded in death most notably by his second son, James Earl, who was 15 when he was killed in a tractor accident. Also deceased are Marc's parents, and his three siblings as well: Vei Luann, a sister who drowned in the family's lily pond when she was three and Marc was ten; John Byron, his older brother, who died in 2007, and Malcom, his younger brother of Akron, Ohio, who passed away four years ago.

Marc is survived by his wife of 71 years, Colleen Stockman, by 3 children, 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Children are: Hal Stockman (Dianne) of Elko, NV, Marcia Koelln ( Paul), of De Leon, TX and Matt Stockman (D'Liza) of De Leon. Hal's three children are Jim (Jennifer) Stockman, Jennifer Cook, and Janice Stockman. Marcia's three children are Greg (Dana) Koelln, Tim (Amy) Koelln, and Jamie Koelln. Matt's three children are Melanie Stockman, Cavin Stockman, and Noah Stockman.

A memorial service was held Monday, November 25, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. at Nowlin Anders Funeral Home with Brother Weldon Branham and daughter Marcia Koelln officiating. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) at 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201, in memory of Marc.