Derek Garvie

Derek Garvie, 34, a resident of Grove, passed away in his Dad's arms on Sunday, November 01, 2009 at the Grand Lake Villa Nursing Center after a seven year battle with Huntington's Disease. He was born on April 13, 1975 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Derek attended school in Putnam City, Oklahoma, and Belgium. He played football, baseball and basketball as a youth and while in school and enjoyed water skiing, his waverunner and his 4-wheeler at Grand Lake in the summers. He also loved movies, meeting celebrities such as Dustin Hoffman, and collecting autographed pictures from them in London. He lived in Europe for sixteen years while his dad Jim taught and coached there. He worked for the Air Force as a civilian at the Lakenheath U.S. Air Force Base in England. Derek was preceded in death by his loving grandpa Herb Garvie on July 19, 1996 and his compassionate step-grandfather Howard Crow two months ago here in Grove. Survivors include his father Jim Garvie of the home, grandmother Sylvia Garvie of Grove, his self- adopted mom Martha Forster of Oklahoma City, Aunts and Uncles Cork Conner, Timmy Conner, Gabe and Amanda Smith, all of Grove; Steve and Lisa Snyder in Okinawa, Matt and Rebecca Schemenaur and Herb and Michel Garvie of Texas and Bill, Brad and Cassie Forster of Oklahoma City. Along with cousins Walker Smith, Ellie Smith, David, Rachel, Daniel and Joey Schemenaur, and Matt Snyder and Haley Garvie. Derek is also survived by his brother Shawn Hignite, of Rush Springs, Oklahoma, and his three boys: Shaenyn, Kyle and Brailyn. Derek is also survived by his two special pets: his English bulldog Bucksnort and his British persian cat Cher-Sumo. Both of these lovable animals brought Derek many days of peace and happiness, especially in the last couple years. Bucksnort would visit Derek in the nursing home daily, sit in a chair next to his bed, lick his ear, kiss his cheek and make funny faces at Derek... derek would laugh. Derek loved driving his red british sports car to work on base each day where he won many awards by base commanders as the best worker on base. He enjoyed traveling with his Dad and Uncle Cork to Brussels, Munich, Luxembourg, Germany, Salzburg and the London Pubs. He especially loved the Alps in Garmisch, Germany and in Austria. He treasured his 1958 Plymouth CHRISTINE movie car and won many shows and cruises around the 4-state area with speakers behind the grill blasting "Bad to the Bone", a Derek trademark. He had been seen lately riding in his OU red vette convertible with his Dad checking out the sights of the place he loved the best - Grand Lake & Grove. Derek will be so very much missed by many... but most incredibly by his Dad. Dad was his "main man". Derek was a Christian and is in heaven with Jesus, his Grandpas that he loved so much and his belgian cat Axel Foley. Any services will be along with his Dad together sometime in the future. Friends and family may leave notes of encouragement and view the obituary at www.honoringmemories.com. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Grand Lake Villa annual car show fund in Derek's name of which Derek was a part of. Contact Kim, Andrea or Kerry at Grand Lake Villa nursing home in Grove 918-786-2276 for information or send a donation to same at 103 Har-ber Road, Grove, Oklahoma 74344. Derek's Dad thanks everyone in advance for honoring a 'special' young man with a great heart. Dad is so broken but so thankful to God for sharing Derek with him for a short while. Please hold him and hug him until Dad arrives in heaven to take over.

Service Details

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