Marvin Yost
August 20, 1937 — May 1, 2025
Marvin Eugene Yost, 87, beloved husband and father, of Ponca City, OK, peacefully passed away at home on May 1, 2025, after battling Alzheimer's for several years.
Marvin was born on August 20, 1937, to Charles Chester Yost and Frances (Rohla) Yost in Denver, CO. In his early childhood, Frances and her two sons, Marvin and Bernie, moved back to Nebraska. She married James Leo Fisher who then became stepdad to the two brothers. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Lincoln, NE in 1954, where he lettered in band and played first chair clarinet. After graduation, Marvin started his studies at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, before deciding to enlist in the Army in 1958. He began his military career at Fort Riley, Kansas for basic training. He then went on to Boston, Massachusetts, where he obtained his Army Security Agency training. From 1959 - 1962, Marvin served the Army Security Agency as a Specialist 5 (E5) Technician, which was equivalent to a Sergeant for non-combat areas, in Rothwesten, Germany, monitoring the Russians on the East German border. When he returned to the States, he served as a member of the Army Reserves until 1965 when he received his Honorable Discharge. Marvin went on to continue his studies in Chemical Engineering at The University of Nebraska - Lincoln where he achieved his B.S. in 1965, M.S. in 1967 and ultimately his PhD. in 1968.
After graduation, Marvin landed his first job as a Research and Development Engineer for Conoco in 1968. He had the opportunity to travel to many places both foreign and domestic, receive safety awards and certificates of achievements, and to have four patents developed in his name, sharing three of those with co-workers from Conoco. He retired in 1994 after 26 years of service. After retiring from Conoco, he toyed with the idea of offering engineering consultant services, but he eventually joined Jackson Hewitt Tax Services business, partnering with Dale May and Lyn Boyer for several years.
During the summer of 1964, while on an internship, Marvin met Karen Marie Nelson when they were both working at 3M in Minneapolis, MN. They were wed in September of 1965 in Albert Lea, Minnesota. God went on to bless them with four children, Krista Ann, Jeffery Alan, Jeremy Owen and Pamela Marie. For several years, Marvin enjoyed serving as the President and Board Member for the McCord School District Board of Education.
Marvin was determined to provide for his family and give them the life he felt they deserved. Through his own quiet way, his family meant more to him than anything else in the world. He was very proud of each of his children and their accomplishments and always tried his best to support them in his own way. Marvin was a long time and faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Ponca City. He served as an Ordained Deacon starting in 1978 and enjoyed serving on the Long-Range Planning Committee. You could typically find him either happily greeting church goers at the north doors of the church or enjoying working in the sound booth in the balcony of the sanctuary.
Marvin was not particularly involved in many extracurricular activities. He enjoyed tending to his large garden and several fruit trees at his home. After retirement he could, on occasion, be found joining a small group of friends for breakfast, typically at J.W. Cobbs.
Anyone who knew Marvin knew that he was fairly quiet and reserved, but had a quick, dry sense of humor that you could almost miss if you weren't listening closely enough. He was a loving father and husband and will very much be missed. Marvin was preceded in death by James (Jack) Fisher, stepdad; Frances Fisher, mother; Charles Yost, father; Bernard Yost, brother. He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Karen Yost of the home; daughter Krista Jantz and husband Jeff of Red Bluff, CA; son Jeffery Yost of Ponca City; son Jeremy Yost and wife Allison of Ponca City; and daughter Pamela Almack and husband Reese of Ponca City; his grandchildren, Elliott, Elton and Layla Almack and Jacob Yost all of Ponca City; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and extended relatives in Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida.
There will be a Celebration of Life on June 12th, 2025, at 2pm in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Ponca City, OK.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Ponca City, OK and the Hospice of North Central Oklahoma in Ponca City, OK.
