Marvin Lee Essex

Marvin L. Essex, 82 of Castle Rock, Colorado died Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at Sky Ridge Medical Center. Just like he dealt with all his experiences in life, Marv persevered through several health challenges with strength and grace, and only wanted to spend time with his loved ones, who were with him on his final day.

Born and raised in Alturas, California, Marv was a multi-sport athlete in high school and college. He graduated from Modoc Union High School and earned his civil engineering degree from Chico State College in Chico, California. Marv served in the U.S. Army before starting a career working for the U.S. Department of Transportation as a Federal Highway Engineer.

He married his sweetheart Sue Russell Essex, a home economics teacher that he courted while stationed in Virginia during his stint in the Army. Marv and Sue celebrated 54 years of marriage in July. They had two children, Melissa Essex North of Greenwood Village and John P. Essex of Aurora.

Marv spent his entire career with the Federal Highway Administration, working in many states before coming to Colorado where he retired as a Bridge Engineer in 1993. One of the projects Marv worked on was the extraordinary Glenwood Canyon network of viaducts, bridges, and tunnels constructed through an extremely narrow, environmentally sensitive gorge in western Colorado. The project symbolized the completion of the original U.S. interstate highway system.

Marv’s children remember family camping trips with their dad driving and pointing out various bridges that had been some of his projects. No doubt there are many such bridges still standing today that Marv helped build, inspect and rehabilitate so that they carry vehicles safely today. Marv’s engineering skills extended to his personal life as well. He was a craftsman, finding great enjoyment in starting new projects around the house from building furniture for his children to taking on a “fixer-upper” home in Weld County after retiring and renovating every room from floor to ceiling.

He was not just a sports fan, Marv was a sports enthusiast and was never happier than when he was at a Colorado Rockies game, but watching the Rockies or Denver Nuggets on television was almost as good. His sports interests extended to his children and he volunteered to coach his son’s soccer teams and spent countless hours supporting his daughter’s interest in horseback riding.

Marv leaves behind his wife Sue, two sisters, Sandra Kirchner and Vikki Lillard of Hamilton, Montana, two children, Melissa [married to Michael North], and John [married to Pam Essex], and three grandsons, Matthew Elliott of Denver and Liam and Killian Essex of Aurora.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 25, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with committal to follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery, both in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Marv survived a stroke in 2001 that left him with aphasia. It was difficult for him to carry on a conversation and to read books. He was particularly proud of reading more than 800 audio books that he received from the Colorado Talking Book Library. He was also a long-time member of a stoke support group for people with aphasia.

Memorial contributions may be made to Friends of the Colorado Talking Book Library, https://www.friendsofctbl.org/donations.htm, 180 Sheridan Blvd., Denver, Colorado 80226-8101 or Rocky Mountain Stroke Center,

https://www.strokecolorado.org/donate 5666 South Bannock, Littleton, Colorado 80120.