Mark Aaron Parks' Obituary
Mark Aaron Parks, 46, was born on September 26, 1969 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and moved to Fort Worth, Texas, while a baby. He passed away on March 15, 2016 in Rosemary Beach, Florida. He graduated from Boswell High School, Saginaw, Texas, and immediately became an Aggie, earning a Civil Engineering degree at Texas A&M in College Station. He worked at BSW International, an architectural firm in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Doucet and Associates, an engineering firm in Austin, Texas, before moving to Dallas to earn an MBA from SMU. In 1999 he joined The Stainback Organization in Dallas for the career of a lifetime. Mark was trained and mentored by the very best, Kent Stainback, and became the company’s vice president, working with clients such as Walmart, Starbucks, Lowe’s, and Chick-fil-A. Mark and the love of his life, Dorothy Raven, of Austin married in 2003 and made their home in Dallas. They welcomed daughter, Riley Erin, in 2008 and son, Cooper Jackson, in 2010 and have been very active at the children’s school (Lakewood Elementary) and with their soccer teams. Mark loved all sports — especially football. Dorothy said (after a couple of years of marriage) that she knew Mark loved football, but she didn’t realize he loved it “that much!” Mark was a wonderful spirit who adored his wife and children and cherished his many friends. He will be greatly missed. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Mickey and June Lindecker of Oklahoma. Survived by his wife, Dorothy; daughter, Riley Erin Parks; son, Cooper Jackson Parks, all of Dallas; mother, Sandra Parks; sister, Kimberly Wirkus; and brother, Jeffery Parks, all of Benbrook; beloved in-laws, Tom and Norma Divine, of Austin; father, Ronnie Parks, of Oklahoma; numerous other relatives and many cherished friends. During the service and reception the church will provide childcare. Please email kidacare@hpumc.org for a reservation. A post reception celebration will be immediately following the church reception at Lakewood’s First and 10- 6465 East Mockingbird Lane #316. The visitation for Mark Parks will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at Restland Funeral Home. A Memorial service for Mark will be at 1:00 PM Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at Highland Park United Methodist Church. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, at Restland Road, Dallas, TX 75243. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the kids’ college fund, below is the link to the website: https://www.youcaring.com/dorothy-raven-parks-542770
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