Mr. Derek Maurice Trotter

To Mr. Derek Maurice Trotter, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Derek, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Derek really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Derek was born on October 25, 1969 at General Hospital in Los Angeles, California. His parents were Caren LeBlanc and Michael Trotter. Derek was raised in Los Angeles, California. Even as a child, Derek had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

Always a good playmate, Derek was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Derek managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. He had two older brothers Damien Watson and Lawrence Kendrid. Younger brothers Demetrius Kelly, Malcolm Trotter, Maxcell Trooter and Deshaun Trotter and two younger sisters LaRaina Trotter and Danielle Trotter.

All of Derek's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Derek experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in basketball and track.

Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Derek was a class “cut-up.” He didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Derek simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Derek, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience. Since experience was Derek's best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Derek graduated from John C. Fremont in 1987. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was auto shop.

Derek never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Derek to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Derek delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Derek was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Derek utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, his best friend was Ed. Later in life, he became friends with Ed, Davon, Bernard and Wesley. Derek loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Derek very easy to approach. On February 19, 1992 Derek exchanged wedding vows with Marvonia Lynn Robinson at The Graceland Chapel of Las Vegas, Nevada. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Derek related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Derek was blessed with three children, Markesia L., Caleb M. And Marc A. Trotter. Derek had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Derek's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Derek had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Derek was a real “people person. ” he had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Derek liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Derek was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Derek's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Derek as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was master service technician. He was employed for 19 years with Ikon Office Solutions.

Derek enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Derek liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were gardening. Derek was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Derek felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Derek loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Derek relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Derek never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Derek played basketball and track. Recreational sports included basketball and golf. Derek was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were basketball and football.

Derek had an endless appetite for new and different activities. He was always ready to join in the fun and add his flair and energy to an organization. Because of his personality, his humor, and his ability to get along with everyone, Derek's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which he belonged. Throughout his later years, Derek was an active member of the Convicts Motorcycle Club.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Derek recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a member of Destiny Christian Center for 5 years. During that time, he was served as an usher, sounds technician and supervisor over cleaning team.

Naturally outgoing and generous, Derek was regularly doing things for others. For him, the gift of giving to others was second nature. Though he never set out to gain individual recognition, Derek was given accolades for his many and varied accomplishments throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included numerous certificates from his job at Ikon Office Solutions.

Living life in the fast lane suited Derek just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included Hawaii, San Francisco, Atlanta, Louisiana and Texas trips.

Derek was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. Derek's favorites was Diamond, Tiny and Knuckles, Blue grey Pitbulls. They were best friends for 6 years. His family was rounded out by his oscars, Derek and Marva.

Derek passed away on May 29, 2010 at North Las Vegas, Nevada. Motorcycle accident. He is survived by his wife Marvonia; his children Markesia, Caleb and Marc Trotter; his mother Caren Kendrid; his father Michael Trotter; his brothers Damien Watson, Lawrence Kendrid, Demetrius Kelly, Malcolm Trotter, Maxcell Trotter; his sisters Laraina and Danielle Trotter. Services were held at Palm Mortuary. Derek was laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Derek brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Mr. Derek Maurice Trotter lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Downtown Funeral Home, Las Vegas, NV.