Marvin Ellis North was born May 1, 1961 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee to the late Joe Ellis North and Shellie Ann North. He spent part of his youth growing up in Gallatin, but spent most of his youth in Christiana, Tennessee.
As a youngster, Marvin began to show interest in horses when he got his first horse, a spotted pony he named Bill who he showed and won numerous ribbons at the 4-H Shows and County Fairs. His love for horses continued when he worked alongside his Dad at the family’s “Little 11 Stables” where he learned the North Lick by mimicking his Dad’s style of riding. Little did we know it would turn into his lifetime passion for riding and training Tennessee Walking Horses.
Over the course of his career, he worked with some of the greats at several stables such as Sammie Day of Continental Farms, Billy Gray of Sand Creek Farms, Ramsey Bullington of Ramsey Bullington’s Stables, David Landrum of Ravenwood Farms, Joel and Joe Weaver of Rising Star Farms and Dick Peebles of Peebles Stables, just to name a few.
During his career, he was named Assistant Trainer of the Year in 1999. His most notable horse was “The Lottery” of Ravenwood Farms where he won five first-place finishes. After he stopped showing The Lottery himself, he was still the trainer when he was crowned the World Grand Champion ridden by Joe Cotton.
Even with his failing health, he wanted to visit the Oval one more time. His brother Steve and good friend Michael Scott made it happen last year when he rode Miss Bad and Bossy into the ring.
They say “when you do something you love, it isn’t work” and this was true for Marvin. He lived and breathed Tennessee Walking Horses. There are few things in life that calm you, bring you pure joy and make everything all right; for Marvin, it was being next to or on a Tennessee Walking Horse.
He leaves to cherish his memories: a loving partner, Deborah Malone; mother, Shellie North; daughter, Kierra White; four grandchildren LaZaria, Dierra, Rose and Peanut; Siblings, Lorenzo North, Felicia Whitaker, Marguerite Laye, Jimmy Freeman, Steve (Anna) North, Joseph (Mary) North, Cheryl (Steffanus) Jackson, Pamela North, Richard (LaSand) North, Sabrina (Duan) Johnson and Rometrius North; a host of nieces, nephews, family, friends and the Tennessee Walking Horse Industry. The Scoop sends our deepest sympathies to the North family.