Bobby Mark Smalling

Mark Smalling was born on April 3,1950 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. The family moved to River Oaks, Texas, and Mark attended Castleberry Elementary School. In 1957, the family moved to a 28 acre farm located between Azle and Briar, Texas. There Mark attended Walnut Creek Elementary School through 5th grade, Junior High School through 8th grade, and Azle High School through 9th grade. During his years in school in the U.S., he was active in sports, band, and Future Farmers of America. He played football, basketball, and track (shotput). He raised and showed livestock.

In 1965, Wayne and Florene followed God’s call and moved the family to East Africa as missionaries. They served from 1965-1986 at Chimala Mission and Hospital in Tanzania, East Africa. During that time, Mark and his siblings were homeschooled, then attended Rift Valley Academy (RVA) in Kijabe, Kenya, East Africa, until they graduated and returned to the United States for college.

Mark and Vickie met shortly after his return to the US after graduating from RVA. They dated, fell in love, and became engaged while Mark was in the Army. Mark and Vickie were married on August 29, 1972, at Brown Trail Church of Christ in Bedford, Texas, while Mark was on military “R&R” leave from the Army.

Mark served in the Army Military Police from February 1971-January 1973, and was stationed at Kagnew Station, Asmara, Ethiopia. Mark earned the National Defense Service Medal, and Expert M16 and Sharpshooter M14 awards.

Mark and Vickie have lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth area most of their lives. They were members of Legacy Church of Christ in North Richland Hills (formerly Pipeline Road Church of Christ), and are current members of Northwood Church in Keller.

Mark worked as a construction manager, concrete plant manager, certified auto technician, and later graduated from Tarrant County College with a degree in Culinary Arts. He excelled as an Executive Chef at a local country club and eventually opened his own small barbecue restaurant, Briar Creek Smokehouse, in Briar, Texas, fulfilling a long time dream of his. However, due to family needs, the restaurant was closed.

Mark was skilled in cooking, art, construction, and hunting. He enjoyed creating Texas cuisine and curries, traveling, sketching, western novels and movies, listening to music, antiques, history, spoiling his dog Shorty, loving his family with all his heart, and following God.

Mark, We love you, Forever and Always.

He was preceded in death by his parents Winston Wayne Smalling of McQueen Oklahoma and Ida Florene Smalling of Victory, Oklahoma.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Vickie Davis Smalling of Fort Worth, Texas; son, Bradley Smalling and wife Jenny, of Evergreen, Colorado; daughter, Shannon Kidd and husband Bryan, granddaughter Bailee, and grandson Barrett, of North Richland Hills, Texas; sister, Cynthia Smalling-Cosens, of Grand Prairie, Texas; sister of the heart, Judith Martin Smalling of Richardson, Texas; brothers, Marshall Smalling and wife Mishy, of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, David Michael Smalling and wife Maryam of Njombe, Tanzania. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Private interment May 1st, 2020 at 1:00pm at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery.

Celebration of Life, honoring Bobby Mark Smalling September 24, 2020 from 12:30-1:30 PM at Northwood Church Chapel, 1870 Rufe Snow Dr., Keller TX 76248.

Committal and Military Honors Service 3:15 PM line-up at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas TX 75211.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to:

Rift Valley Academy, Kijabe Kenya

https://usgiving.aimint.org/project/rva-general-program

Chimala Mission and Hospital

https://www.chimalamission.com/donate/

Northwood Church-Keller, Vietnam Missions Fund

http://northwoodchurch.org/give/