Mark Douglas Walker's Obituary
Mark Douglas Walker, 34, a lifelong resident of Longview, Texas, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, October 8th, 2021. He departed this world at the same place where he arrived, the CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview. He was born on August 8th, 1987 to Dixie (nee Hearrell) and James Walker and became the proud big brother to sister Laci Britton (nee Walker) in 1991.
Mark was an ‘05 graduate of Pine Tree High School where he could regularly be seen on his skateboard in the courtyard. On October 27, 2011, he married fellow Pine Tree High School alum Lita Marie Walker ‘07 (nee Messer). They enjoyed traveling, collecting Pokemon cards, and cherished their family time with pups Buster and Luna.
A tireless supporter of the disc golf community, Mark was commended by Longview Disc Golf Association for his passionate advocacy and entrepreneurial spirit. In 2018, he joined First Class Glass where he loved selling custom glass pieces with his friends and colleagues Dalton Burns, Dylan Liston, and Deylin Dowdell. He brought his two passions together when, recognizing the need for a Longview-based shop to supply avid disc golf players like himself, owners Josh Montana and Sergio Santana expanded their business to include premium discs and disc golf accessories. Author Patrick McCormick once reflected, “Not many sports can be played alone, in the woods or in the fields, where a man can be alone with his thoughts. Or better yet, without them.” In his free time, you could always find Mark outdoors with a disc, pole, rifle, or paddle in his hands.
Mark is survived by his wife Lita, parents James and Dixie, grandfather Thomas Hearrell of Longview, grandmother Jackie Smith of Norman, Oklahoma, sister Laci and her husband Christopher Britton and their children Robert and Daniel of Longview, and his sister-in-law Frances Rodriguez and her husband Tony Rodriguez of Longview. He will also be missed by his numerous aunts, uncles, and close cousins Austin Walker, Cody Walker and wife Lani Walker, Tyler Walker, Holli Garcia and husband Patrick Garcia, and Malissa Hearrell. He is preceded in death by grandparents Margarett Hearrell of Longview, Letha Walker of Longview, Jackie Walker of Longview, and Ed Smith of Norman.
Mark was never seen without a hat or his signature smile, every word he spoke was filled with kindness or an amateur rap parody. His contrast refrain, “Y’all should of done been recording me!”, will be forever missed.
A celebration of Mark’s life will be held on October 14th from 6 to 8pm at Rader Funeral Home at 1617 Judson Road in Longview. He will be buried at Lakeview Memorial Gardens located at 5000 W Harrison Road in Longview on October 15th at 10am. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, his family requests a donation to Educational Disc Golf Experience (edgediscgolf.org), a non-profit corporation formed to provide disc golf educational services for youth and adolescents.
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