Mark James Licklider

Mark James Licklider, 68, of Austin, Texas, died at his home on December 6th, cared for by his family and supported by many dear friends. He will be remembered as a multitalented and fiercely independent intellectual who was also affectionate and sentimental.

Mark was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma in 1957 to Clarence Raymond (“Ray”) LIcklider Jr. and Rae Elizabeth (Woessner) Licklider. The family moved to Houston while Daddy Ray completed his education to become a Physical Therapist. In 1969, Ray and Rae felt called by God to the Mission field. They moved the family (Kermit, Mark, and Dede) to Shashamane, Ethiopia. Mark attended Bingham Academy boarding school in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 5th - 9th grade, Landry High School in New Orleans, LA for 10th grade, and then the Rift Valley Academy boarding school in Nairobi, Kenya until his graduation from high school

Mark’s most vivid childhood memories were turned into legendary stories that entertained and amazed. These included a family camping trip to Lake Langano in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia accompanied by their pet cat and a live chicken, swimming with his siblings on the shores of “this cool lake” and discovering they were encroaching on the lounging and grazing habitat of the local bloat of hippopotami, sharpening the needles used in Momma Rae’s cholera and typhoid clinics, chopping wood as punishment for mischief at boarding school (Mark got really, really good at chopping wood!), and learning about the magic and wonder of a tiny cup of espresso.

After graduating from High School, he returned to the United States and attended Dallas Baptist College and the University of Texas at Austin, graduating with a BA in French Literature and a BA in Theatre Studies. He was the Maintenance Foreman for the Rudder Theater Complex at Texas A&M (TAMU) in College Station where he formed friendships that would last his lifetime.

The example of service set by his parents was a value that Mark internalized. From 1986 -1990, he served as a Peace Corp Volunteer in Hiheatro, Togo, West Africa, where his work included water development (rain collection, spring tapping), and building large capacity bridges, clinics, schools, and latrines. He taught motorcycle safety and maintenance and hosted many wicked Barbecues et fêtes for his amis et bénévoles. Having witnessed the hardships of the people in Ethiopia and Togo, Mark never took anything for granted and truly appreciated the simple pleasures of life.

Upon returning to the United States, Mark moved into the Sunflower Co-op in Austin, Texas and reunited with his TAMU friends, including Patricia Adams (Patty) who became his wife in 1994. Mark and Patty moved to Pennsylvania where Mark, surrounded by gifted and talented peers, achieved a Master of Science in Sustainable Systems from Slippery Rock University. Mark and Patty then moved back to the Sunflower Co-op in Austin, and in 1996, their daughter, Loretta Marian Adams Licklider, was born. Together (including their dog, Ruby) they spent many weeks each summer at their cabin in the Flat Tops Wilderness of Colorado working joyfully to make many ingenious improvements. He became a skilled fly fisherman, tying his own flies and then cooking the day’s catch over the campfire. Mark was a partner in a Rain Collection business, Sustainable Homesteads, for 3 years, after which he became the sole proprietor. This allowed him the flexibility to prioritize caring for Loretta and remodeling the family home in South Austin.

In 2004, he was employed as a Disaster Relief Inspector to write grants for individuals whose homes were destroyed by disaster. He served the people of New Orleans post-Katrina . He was then hired by FEMA as a Public Assistance Specialist and served the New York City Police, Fire, EMS, and Port Authority for a year after Tropical Storm Sandy.

Other significant deployments included Iowa, New Mexico, and Florida. His last deployment was for one year in San Francisco, CA. Wherever Mark was stationed, he made an extraordinary effort to engage in all that the community had to offer. For example, he became a patron of an off/off/off Broadway theatre in NYC. Frequently he would buy used bicycles to ride through the neighborhoods and then donate them when it was time to return home to Austin. In this manner, Mark was able to fulfill his wanderlust while, at the same time, remain a devoted husband and father. In addition to all of the above, Mark was fluent in French, Spanish, and cursing, and was an accomplished chef, carpenter, gardner, and tailor.

Mark was preceded in death by his father, Ray Licklider, his mother Rae Licklider, his revered uncle, J. Fred Woessner, Jr., and his beloved grandmother, Marian Woessner. Mark is survived by his wife, Patricia Adams, daughter, Loretta Adams Licklider, brother Kermit Licklider (Lillie), sister, Denise “Dede” Hart, Uncle Rudy (Susan) Woessner, Aunt Mary LeBoeuf, Uncle Ronald Licklider, and many incredibly supportive nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was immensely grateful for all the love and support he received in the past year.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Austin Event and Dance Center, 10203 Old Manchaca Rd. Austin Texas 78748 on January 23rd at 3pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those wishing to remember and honor Mark’s life make a donation to one of the following organizations:

Foundation Communities - a local, nonprofit providing affordable housing and support services for families with kids, veterans, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. https://foundcom.org

Mobile Loaves and Fishes - A ministry that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for people coming out of chronic homelessness as well as food trucks that hit the streets of Austin 7 nights a week, 365 days a year to provide food, clothing and other life-sustaining items to homeless men and women who are struggling to survive. https://mlf.org