Joseph Franklin Marver

Joseph Franklin Marver of Twisp, Washington, was the creator and founder of Spirit Halloween and founder, owner and operator of Twisp River Suites, a boutique hotel along the river in Twisp, Washington.
On March 16, 2025, Joe Marver, our beloved father, grandfather, father-in-law, uncle and friend, passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer in Plano, Texas. He was surrounded by family listening to his favorite music. A celebration of life will be held in Twisp, WA, in May, with an additional service to be held at a later date.
He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on March 2, 1943, to Bernard and Slovie Marver. Marver graduated from Central High School in St. Paul and attended the University of Minnesota. He moved to Los Angeles, California, where he became an entrepreneur starting several businesses. He opened his initial store, The Jeanery, in Livermore, CA, followed by two other locations in the Bay Area. Marver then opened Spirit Women's Apparel but found himself stagnated in the women's apparel industry. In 1983, he purchased a party goods store in Hayward, CA, to compete with another small Halloween store located in the same shopping center as Spirit Women's Apparel. Marver created a unique business model for his party store, which became the concept that launched the juggernaut, Spirit Halloween, now the #1 Halloween retailer in the world. Marver sold the company in1999 to Spencer Gifts and stayed on for several years as a consultant.
He moved to Twisp, Washington in early the 2010s, where he built a hotel on the river, and named it Twisp River Suites. As a hotelier, he hosted scores of guests and providing a venue for local entertainers to perform, as well as his own performances. He became a fixture in Twisp and was known as "Joe Baby," becoming the unofficial mayor of the town. His life impacted many people in a positive way, and he will be greatly missed by his family, the community and the surrounding Methow Valley.
He is predeceased by his daughter, Cammy Marver, who passed in 2004. He is also predeceased by his brothers, John and Robert, and parents, Bernie and Slovie. He is survived by his three sons and their spouses, Cory and Rikki; Brian and Gaby; and Daniel and Callie; his two grandchildren, Kaylee and Cameron and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Donations in Joe Marver's name can be made to the American Cancer Society and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
May his memory be a blessing.