Mark Warren Garner, 60, of Fort Smith, Arkansas went home to Jesus on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, April 25, 2021 with his family at his bedside after a valiant and courageous one year battle with cancer. We find peace in knowing he was home with us and not in a hospital room with such rules and restrictions. As his diagnosis and treatment was delayed by the onset of the pandemic last year.
Mark was the most loving, loyal, attentive huband, father, Pops, brother, son and friend. It was his passion to do for others. He will be greatly missed.
Mark was born June 27, 1960 to Cecil and Evelyn (Hulett) Garner in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He attended Fort Smith Public Schools at Beard Elementary, Ramsey Junior High School and was a proud Southside Rebel graduate, class of 1978. He and Melanie attended his 40th year class reunion in 2018. He graduated from Westark Community College in 1981 and attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
He married Melanie Shelton of Hackett at Grand Avenue Baptist Church on September 22, 1984, where he had been a member since he was an infant.
Mark was a “car guy”. He loved all things cars. He enjoyed watching Barrett-Jackson and Mecum Car Auctions. He has owned Camero’s, Mustang’s and most recently a Cutlass 442 that his brother, Randy found in Virginia. He loved his job at Tri-State Enterprises and considered them family.
Mark will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 36 years, Melanie; his son, Matthew and daughter-in-law, Emilee; grandchildren, Henry and Hadlee; his father, Cecil and companion, Onada; his brother, Russell and wife, Gena and their son, Zach; his brother, Randy and wife, Debbie and their son, Kyle and his wife, Penney, their children, Devan and Chad and wife, Sara. Other special family members on Melanie’s side, Paula, Tracey, Leon, Kala, Adam, Alyssa, Garet, Jami, Jaxon, Leo, Jessie, Steven, Brooklyn, Jenna, Stephanie, Karen, Kim, Ben, Sam, Jake, Lisa, Wes, Annie, Aleah, Skylar, Alex, Ruby and Ashtyn and his loving church family at Grand Avenue, Sunday School Class Adult 3 special teachers, Pam and Kelly Tiffee; his beloved work family, Tristen and Kim Taylor, Richard, Marcos, LeRoy, Larry, Wayne, Morgan, Terry, Johnny, Noel and Rocky, you all held a special place in Mark’s heart and special neighbors, Tom and Debbie Perito and Jane Duke.
Mark was preceded in death by his mother, Evelyn; his Mamaw and Papaw Garner, Pops and Grandma Malone and his loving loyal canine companion, Ben.
The family would like to thank his pharmacist, Lauren with Kaba Fusion, Mercy Infusion Center, Nurse Shelia, Mercy Home Health, Nurse Tenna for all their care and concern.
A celebration of life service will be held 10 a.m., Friday, April 30 at McConnell Funeral Home Chapel in Greenwood with burial at Mountain View Cemetery in Hackett. Viewing will be Thursday from 1 – 7 p.m. at the funeral home, where the family will visit with friends from 5 – 7 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Chad Garner, Kyle Garner, Matt Garner, Zach Garner, Trace Higdon, Tommy Perito, Richard Rauch and Smiley Wallis. Honorary pallbearers will be Tri State Enterprises Employees and the Adult 3 Sunday School Class at Grand Avenue Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Mountain View Cemetery Association, c/o Kelly Lane, 7716 New Hope Rd., Hackett, AR 72937.
Melanie and Matthew would like to say a special thank you to Mark’s caregivers, Randy and Debbie Garner.
