Gordon G. Marcum, Sr.

Gordon Marcum, Sr. a World Champion Skeet Shooter, of Midland died in his sleep on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 89. He was born in Cairo, Oklahoma on October 11, 1918 into the family of Bessie Hayhurst and Claude Marcum. He graduated from Capital Hill High School in Oklahoma City and attended the University of Oklahoma where he studied geology and taught flight school. In 1940 he received a direct commission into the US Army Air Corps as a First Lieutenant. He was assigned to be the Senior Check Pilot at Jones Field in Bonham, Texas. He married Marjorie Pearl Shelton of Ada, Oklahoma in 1941.

LT Marcum was then transferred to Love Field to join the Ferry Command. He flew every type of military aircraft that was flown during WW II. After the service he was a professional pilot for the Lloyd Noble family and Noble Drilling Company. In 1950 he joined the family business, Marcum Drilling Company. The company moved its operations from Ada to Snyder, Texas and then finally to Midland, Texas. The company operated from 5 to 10 rigs in the Permian Basin until selling the company in 1978.

Being an avid bird hunter, Mr. Marcum began his career as a skeet shooter. For the next twenty years, he participated in competitions all over the state and around the country. He was inducted in 1991 into the Texas Skeet Shooters Hall of Fame and received the Buck Stark Service Award for outstanding dedication to the sport of skeet.

He was selected to the All American Team for some ten years and six times to the Texas All State Team. He was a member of the National Skeet Association Executive Committee and a TSSA Director.

Mr. Marcum was a Mason and member of the First Baptist Church of Midland. His wife of 58 years, Marjorie, died in 1999. He remarried a family friend, Celeste Fasken in 2000 who preceded him in death in 2007. He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Marcum of Austin and brother, Delton Marcum of Midland.

He is also survived by his sons, Gordon and wife, Donna of Houston and Larry of Midland. His grandchildren are Michal Dedwylder and husband, Dr. John Dedwylder of Fort Worth, G. Matt Marcum of Itasca, Texas and Jeff Marcum and wife, Shaunna of Horseshoe Bay, Texas, Cody Marcum and fiancé, Dr. Kristin Kucera of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Colby Marcum and wife, Katie of Midland and Colter Marcum of Houston and great grandchildren, Katie Dedwylder and Sachi Marcum. The grandchildren will serve as the pallbearers.

A special thanks to Dr. Gregg Barta, Noil Tolentino, Ransom Aldamia, Suzette Doria of Comfort Keepers and all the staff and nurses at Parks Methodist Center and Hospice of Midland.

The family will receive friends and family at the Criswell Funeral Home in Ada, Oklahoma on Saturday, January 12th from 8 to 10 am. Graveside services will be at 11 am at the Rosedale Cemetery in Ada. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Parks Methodist Center, 3301 Faudree Road, Odessa, Texas 79765 Hospice of Midland, 911 W. Texas, Midland, Texas 79701 or your favorite charity.

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada, Oklahoma