Picher native among dead

A Picher, Oklahoma, man who perished when a Marine aircraft crashed on training mission was called a "pleasure to be around" by an educator who knew him. <br><br>Pfc. Gabriel C. Clevenger, 21, was a

Monday, April 10th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A Picher, Oklahoma, man who perished when a Marine aircraft crashed on training mission was called a "pleasure to be around" by an educator who knew him.

Pfc. Gabriel C. Clevenger, 21, was a Marine machine gunner from Picher, a small northeastern Oklahoma town near the Kansas border.

Clevenger and 18 others died when an MV-22 tiltrotor Osprey, which looks like a turboprop, crashed Saturday night at Marana Northwest Regional Airport west of Tucson.

He and 13 of the Marines had been stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Robert L. Walker, superintendent of the Picher-Cardin school district, described Clevenger as "outgoing" and active in extracurricular activities and athletics as a high school student.

"Gabe was a good kid," Walker said.

He said Clevenger was likable, enthusiastic and "just a pleasure to be around."

Clevenger was the son Charles and Mary Clevenger. Family members could not be reached for comment.

Charles Clevenger is pastor of Tri State Faith, a nondenominational church.

Walker said he heard the family had been told of Gabriel's death just before the morning service.

Gabriel Clevenger attended a private school at the church but went to public school at Picher-Cardin High School. He graduated in 1997, Walker said.