Marc Allen Latimer

On June 23, 2012 at 3:21 AM CW4 Marc Allen Latimer lost his fight with melanoma cancer. As a Black Hawk pilot for the US Army and later at the CCAD, he lived to fly. Now he no longer needs machines to fly as he is free of the body that bound him to the earth.

Marc lived his life with the conviction that anything was possible... that there are no limitations in this world... and that if you set your mind to it you can achieve anything. He fought cancer that way... never wavering from his belief that he could be the exception to the rule and that regardless of the mounting obstacles against him that he could beat this thing.

At 47, he passed into the night surrounded by his family at home. Marc is survived by his wife Micheal Anne Latimer; his 3 children Meagan, Mackenzie and Miranda; his parents, Mother Lynne Brashear Latimer, Father Robert Stephen Latimer III, Step-Mother Elizabeth Varner Latimer; his siblings Steve, Robin and Andy, 6 nieces, 1 great niece and a large and loving extended family.

Micheal is a school teacher with a focus on special needs kids. A military wife to the end, she has been so strong... right by his side throughout the fight. She waited many times while he was deployed to a war region worried and wondering, while raising their children to become the brave, bright and fearless. All these times must have prepared her to stand by his side as he fought the enemy from within his body. She is just like him... strong and determined.

For him family and fatherhood were the greatest callings in life. His children are a shining example of his strength and conviction to do everything the best you can and "be all that you can be." Meagan is a Cadet and rising Junior at West Point and Mackenzie, a recent graduate of Flour Bluff high School, starts at West Point in July. Both chose to follow in the footsteps of their father and to serve this country in the military tradition for which he was so proud. Miranda his youngest just finished her freshman year of high school. She is a beautiful free spirit who will forever be Daddy's little girl.

Marc earned many awards as a soldier including the Bronze Star for bravery and a Broken Wing Award for successfully landing a disabled Black Hawk without injury to his co-pilot, crew or aircraft. He was in every major conflict for the United States for more the 20 years including both Gulf Wars, Bosnia and Somalia and served duty in Korea, Germany and The Bahamas.

Marc traveled the world with the US Army righting the wrongs of the world and fighting for those who could not fight for themselves and often he said that the key to peace is understanding. That if you can just find common ground with a man... no matter the language ... the political position... the religion... or their upbringing that you can build a strong and peaceful world together. The world would be a better place if we all had such a perspective.

He is at peace now... no more laboring... no more struggling... no more fighting to survive... He is free.

Marc was a devoted husband, loving father and a dedicated soldier. He taught those around him that life is what you make of it... you control what you are able to achieve and that "setting your mind to it" means that your mind is set. He showed by example that honor is paramount and that your word is all you have in this world so if you say you are going to do it... you damn well better. He lived with a simple truth... in life you will face challenges, but your virtue is defined by how you meet those challenges and how you overcome them.

Cancer is a disease that does not judge who we are as people... it doesn't look at the contributions and sacrifice that you have made for family, country and god... Cancer does not weigh the value of your honor or your heart... it does not take into account your valor... it does not look at the makeup of the individual and lends no weight to your integrity, spirit or the amount of love and compassion you have shown others. Because if it did, it would surely not have taken this man. A Real Man.

Marc repeated the this line over and over again... "suck it up and drive on!!!". This does not mean that you are not aware of the situation in which is challenging you. It means that you are aware of it... you address it and then you move forward. Make no bones about it... this is a great loss to his entire family... he was too young to die... we will mourn him.... we will forever miss him... but we will most importantly take his example as a beacon to follow and oh yes... we will "suck it up and drive on!!!"

Memorial Services for Marc will be held at 2PM Wednesday June 27th at the following:

Cage-Mills Funeral Home

4901 Everhart Road, Corpus Christi, TX 78411

361-854-3282

Donations can be made to the Melanoma Research Foundation in the name of:

Marc Allen Latimer

6718 Drake Drive

Corpus Christi, TX 78413

email: [email protected]