Dencil Marsh’s wife calls him a billy goat the way he scrambles over leaf-strewn ledges and through deep, dry washes. Somehow, he said, he never loses his footing.
He wanders foot trails through scrubby forest and brush, exploring a patch of land set aside for a project he considers his “holy calling” – the transformation of 28 acres into a garden showcase and urban forest known as the Longview Arboretum and Gardens.
On a sunny afternoon in June, Marsh leaned his 73-year-old frame against a young pine tree to rest and catch his breath.
“I don’t have the strength and stamina I used to,” he said. “I used to think I was a tough little guy.”
Marsh did not have time to feel tired, however, because his calling has taken on a new sense of urgency in recent years. He is dying of cancer.
Marsh, 73, has Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, a rare, incurable disease that attacks the immune system. Symptoms include weakness and severe fatigue.
When the disease was diagnosed four years ago, Marsh said his doctors gave him three years to live. These days, he said he can muster the energy for about two hours of activity every afternoon.
More often than not, he said, those two hours are spent at the arboretum or writing grant requests for funding. His passion for the arboretum has only intensified since he became sick, he added.
“When you just don’t feel like getting up and going, you need that motivation and that kick in the rear,” he said. “You asked me if I felt like taking a walk. I wouldn’t miss this walk for anything.”
Along the trails at the planned arboretum – nestled in a creek’s drainage area between West Cotton Street and Texas 31 and adjacent to the Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center – Marsh walked past natural features brimming with possibilities, from an eroded stream bed to a murky pond stained black by decaying leaves.
“Doesn’t this look like something the Creature from the Black Lagoon would live in?” he said. “We just need to clean this up a little bit, put a water fountain or something out there.”
The property lends itself to a natural amphitheater, walking trails along Grace Creek and other features, he said.
“You’ve got so many possibilities, it’s almost endless,” he added.
Marsh’s zeal for the arboretum can infect the people around him, said Mike Northcutt, a local banker who is vice president of East Texas Gardens, Arboretum and Conservation, the nonprofit group Marsh founded to oversee the project.
“You get caught up in it,” Northcutt said. “He has a real passion for this project, and he feels – we all feel – this is something positive for the community. It’s kind of a revitalization of that part of town.”
Northcutt, the president of Southside Bank’s Longview branch, said he hopes the arboretum is someday part of a complex that includes Maude Cobb, a planned multipurpose arena and a hotel. New work on the arboretum should begin soon, he added.
“Over the next 12 months we’ll begin to see some things happen, if nothing more than clearing the underbrush to begin to see something take place out there,” Northcutt said. “It’s hard for people to buy in until they really see something happen sometimes.”
In 2005, Stephen F. Austin State University Professor Dave Creech designed a concept plan for the arboretum.
“If it got the right amount of funding and energy, it’s got lots and lots of potential,” he said. “It just needs to have a real push.”
Marsh has been lobbying for the arboretum since 2002, after he noticed a section of Grace Creek while driving one day and saw its potential. In the twilight of his life, the retired industrial manager said he hopes the arboretum will outlive him by hundreds of years.
“As far as me personally, I don’t have any visions of grandeur,” Marsh said. “I have no desire for recognition. Let’s just get it started.”
Marsh said it’s possible he will live for several more years, but there is no way of knowing. He and his wife, Narcene, have six grandchildren. He wants them to remember him as a decent, honorable man, and to enjoy the fruit of his end-of-life’s work.
“To me, this is a holy calling,” he said. “If I don’t do everything I can to make it happen, how do you think I’ll explain it when I stand before God? This is what I’ll spend my last day working on.”
Published June 14, 2009, in the Longview News-Journal
41 responses to “A dying man's 'holy calling'”
hello there and thank you for your information – I’ve certainly picked up
something new from right here. I did however expertise some
technical points using this site, since I experienced to reload the website many times previous to I could get it to load correctly.
I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently
affect your placement in google and can damage your high quality
score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for a lot more of your respective fascinating
content. Ensure that you update this again soon.
I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality
articles or weblog posts on this kind of area .
Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this site.
Reading this info So i am satisfied to express that
I’ve an incredibly just right uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed.
I so much no doubt will make sure to don?t omit this
site and give it a look on a continuing basis.
Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to say that I get
actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing for your augment or
even I fulfillment you access persistently rapidly.
Nice blog here! Also your web site loads up very fast!
What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link
to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as
fast as yours lol
If you want to increase your experience only keep visiting this site and be updated with
the most up-to-date gossip posted here.
Howdy! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so I came to give it a look.
I’m definitely loving the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
Wonderful blog and terrific design and style.
It’s perfect time to make a few plans for the future and it’s time to be
happy. I’ve read this put up and if I could I want to counsel you some fascinating things or tips.
Maybe you can write subsequent articles referring to this article.
I wish to read even more things about it!
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it
for you? Plz answer back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to find
out where u got this from. cheers
If some one needs to be updated with latest technologies after that he must be pay
a quick visit this web page and be up to date every
day.
Hi there! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so
I came to check it out. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
Superb blog and superb style and design.
I do accept as true with all of the ideas you’ve offered on your post.
They are really convincing and can definitely work.
Nonetheless, the posts are too short for newbies.
May you please lengthen them a bit from next time?
Thanks for the post.
Hi, everything is going nicely here and ofcourse every one is sharing information, that’s
genuinely excellent, keep up writing.
What’s Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It positively helpful and it has helped me
out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & help different users like its
helped me. Good job.
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your web site
and in accession capital to assert that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts.
Any way I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently fast.
I blog quite often and I really appreciate your information. Your article has really peaked my
interest. I’m going to take a note of your blog and keep checking for new details about once a week.
I subscribed to your RSS feed too.
I believe people who wrote this needs true loving
because it’s a blessing. So let me give back and give out my
secrets to change your life and if you want to with no
joke truthfully see I will share info about
how to find good hackers for good price Don’t forget..
I am always here for yall. Bless yall!
Heya! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone!
Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to
all your posts! Carry on the great work!
Touche. Sound arguments. Keep up the good effort.
wdtjwizid mlvin vsityjx vwmi poupldahpkeilmq
???? ???
jazz autumn coffee
bossa nova cafe
relaxing music
relaxing music sleep
soothing piano
smooth jazz
Stress Relief
calm music
relax music
690451 459823Spot lets start work on this write-up, I truly believe this fabulous web site needs an excellent deal much more consideration. I?ll apt to be again to learn far more, appreciate your that information. 494879
91470 812792Immigration Lawyers? […]the time to read or visit the content or internet sites we have linked to below the[…]? 37235
730411 530821Superb editorial! Would like took pleasure the specific following. I?m hoping to learn to read a whole lot much more of you. There?s no doubt which you possess tremendous awareness and even imagination. I happen to be very highly fascinated utilizing this critical details. 813248
982918 350659I got what you intend, saved to bookmarks , really decent web site . 30534
jazz music for studying
835126 141833Good blog! Only difficulty is i?m running Firefox on Debian, and the web site is searching just a little.. weird! Possibly you could want to test it to see for yourself. 322752
outdoor cafe coffee shop ambience
531424 796479I was examining some of your content on this internet web site and I believe this internet site is rattling instructive! Keep putting up. 760618
644600 728811I like you weblog (d?sol?, je suis francais, je parle mal anglais) 722578
758246 7185Discovering the right Immigration Solicitor? […]below you will locate the link to some websites that we believe you ought to visit[…]? 521240
766214 459200I haven?t checked in here for some time as I thought it was acquiring boring, but the last couple of posts are excellent quality so I guess I?ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 704255
307118 708994Oh my goodness! a wonderful write-up dude. Thanks a whole lot Nonetheless We are experiencing trouble with ur rss . Do not know why Not able to sign up to it. Possibly there is anybody obtaining identical rss issue? Anyone who knows kindly respond. Thnkx 904588