Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Funeral home packed as family, friends and local residents say goodbye to Pvt. Marcum

PRESCOTT  Brazell/Cornish Funeral Home's chapel was packed Saturday morning for the funeral of Pvt. Van Ryan Marcum.

A photo display of Marcum's short life was set up outside the funeral home chapel. The chapel was too small to accommodate all who showed to pay their last respects to the 21-year-old soldier who died in a freak accident at Ft. Benning, Ga.

Marcum, died Saturday, June 19. According to reports, he touched a metal building and was electrocuted.

Those who spoke of him praised Marcum and his short life. Mark Hall taught Marcum in his church youth group and took him to different camps.

"We all knew Ryan differently," he said. "He was one of the funniest guys I knew, was always up to something and had that crooked smile."

Hall said Marcum was athletic, loved his family and knew the Lord. "Today he is not dead. He is more alive than all of us. He is standing with his maker. It's sad he's not in our presence any longer, but we will see him again. The body here is just a shell. He's smiling down on us today."

Marcum was described as a young man filled with love, kindness and respect to others. It was said he showed respect to those who felt they didn't deserve it.

His uncle, Paul Henley, of Hope, told those gathered Marcus joined the military three months ago. Though he had the option of joining any branch of the service, he chose the Army.

"He was committed to his new adventures," Henley said. "He kept us informed on what he was doing and the skills he was learning. He knew the perils he could face after getting out of basic training. He wanted to be an Airborne Ranger."

Kevin Smead officiated the funeral and reminded those present they weren't on hand to mourn his loss, but celebrate Marcus's life. "He would appreciate and respect the strength shown by those who have spoken about him today. He would respect it."

Marcum, Smead said, was not a perfect man. He had his failures and flaws, but he was forgiven as he had accepted Christ into his life. "He was a blessed man."

Marcum was a man who had an abundance of good works, Smead said. "When I got the news of his death, I began to weep. I had to go home and tell my wife a young man we knew was dead. I'll never forget the tears flowing down her face."

Marcus's life, he said, overflowed with kindness and love. He was full of ambition and wanted to be all he could be for his God, country and family.

According to Smead, Marcum wanted to know everything and read about the mysteries of the universe, philosophy and theology. He dreamed of going to college, but didn't get the chance.

"Ryan died doing something he believed in," Smead said. "He died a heroes death, fulfilling his obligation to his country, government and people. He died knowing he was loved."

A poem Marcus wrote was included in the funeral program. It reads:

Worship with the masses

Pray for the faces

or names, ideas and places

Stay in control and ye shall behold

That life and its treasures shall never grow old

Take you time  let them shine

God will get his

On his own ground  not mine...

SUNDAY is here long awaited  compared to a year

Excited and glad for our sins that we've had

Will be washed clean - what do I mean?

The Lord is almighty  very, very keen

He will forgive us our sins  for then we can be clean.

Marcum was taken to Harmony Cemetery in Sutton and buried with full military honors.