Marvin John Lachney

1926 - 2014

Marvin J. Lachney, the Raging Cajun passed away at home surrounded by his loved ones, Friday, June 20th, 2014. Marvin was born in Louisiana in 1926 to Clayonel and Henriette Dauzat Lachney.

They were share croppers and the effects of poverty, the Great Depression and WWII created a very strong will and desire in Marvin to achieve and overcome. He picked cotton by the bag fulls as soon as he could walk and when he could ride he was placed upon a mule and he worked driving cattle. He worked in New Orleans unloading bananas off the boats and even drove a taxi at the age of 14. He worked in the oil fields, dragging pipe where no trucks could travel. Tired of the poor economic conditions in the south, Marvin hitchhiked to California in 1946 in search of employment.

As a young child, he watched grading of the parish roads. He was captivated by the way the blade turned the earth and decided that one day, he would be the man operating that machinery. Eventually he obtained employment as a heavy equipment operator and worked on the many hydroelectric projects of that time building dams from Alaska to California.

Marvin enlisted and served in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany. Within his three year enlistment, he had achieved the rank of Sergeant and was responsible for an entire battalion.

Upon his return home from service he met the love of his life, Joyce Ann Tittsworth and they were married in Shasta Lake in 1958. There Joyce and Marvin constructed a home, raised three children and built a very successful construction company. Together they owned and operated Marvin J. Lachney Excavating and Paving for over fifty years.

Rarely apart, Marvin and Joyce enjoyed over 53 years of horses, traveling and country music. Marvin supported and was an honorary member of the California State Old Time Fiddlers Assoc.

Joyce predeceased Marvin in 2011.

Marvin is survived by daughters Janet Haney, Donna Baker and son, Wayne Lachney. Grandchildren, Thatcher Shively, Darrah Shively, Amanda Davis (Eric) and Shaina Saelee (Nying) and Matthew Lachney as well as six great grandchildren.

Service will be held at One O'Clock, Friday, June 27th at McDonalds Chapel in Redding. Y'all come.