Mark Griffis

Mark T. Griffis, age 87, of Coleman, died Saturday, January 14, 2017, at Coleman County Medical Center following a long illness. Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 18, at First Baptist Church, 200 E. College Avenue, Coleman, with Revs. John Stanislaw, Richard Hetzel and Marvin Hale officiating. Interment with military honors and a Masonic ceremony will be held at the Valera Cemetery, Coleman County, Texas. Services are under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home in Coleman.

He was born Marcus Theodore Griffis on May 6, 1929 in Coleman, Texas, a son of Theo Griffis and Hazel West Griffis. He started his young life as an explorer of the back roads of Coleman County, often riding horseback or on his little scooter, chasing rabbits and trying to stay out of trouble. Many nights when he was a boy, he would go hunting with his uncle, sleeping in freezing weather, so he could hunt for his first deer of the season. He graduated from Coleman High School in 1947, where he won several honors in Future Farmers of America. He was a proud part of the 1946 undefeated and untied Coleman Bluecat football team, as well as serving at one time as a cheerleader for the Bluecats. Mark served his country as a United States Marine and was honorably discharged in 1954. He graduated in 1957 from Ranger Junior College with a General Business degree. He was married to Martha Jo Dodson and they had one beautiful daughter, Connie Sue Griffis Whitney, who preceded him in death on December 9, 2011. On July 12, 1987 he married Mary Stewart in Las Vegas, Nevada and they have shared almost 30 happy years together.

Mark served as Fire Chief and Fire Marshall for the Coleman Volunteer Fire Department. He also served as Civil Defense Director for the City of Coleman and served on the school board of both Coleman and Mozelle schools. He was a past president of the Coleman Noon Lion's Club, Evening Lion's Club and Talpa Lion's Club. He was a long-time member of the Coleman Rodeo Association and served on the board of the Coleman County Medical Center Board for 19 years, including several years as president and retiring as president. He was member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church where he served on the Bishop's Committee. He later joined First Baptist Church.

He was production superintendent for Del Cryer Oil Company for the Albany area for several years and was then self-employed in heavy equipment in contract oil field and conservation. He served as Manager of the Coleman Chamber of Commerce from 1948-1977. In 1978 he was production foreman for the Jones Company in Albany and in the 1980's as a production superintendent with Del Ray Oil Company, until his retirement in 2002. Mark was part of a Coleman County pioneer family who first came here in the 1800's. He was a farmer and rancher for many years and farmed the land that he loved so well in the south part of the county.

Through his marriage to Mary, he was blessed to be a part of the lives of two other children, Dr. Matthew Hausenfluke and his wife Jodi of Garland, Texas, and Wendy Romano and her husband Mike of Orlando, Florida. He has six grandchildren, Sujo and Ricka McKee, Sophia, Landry and Anthony Romano and Grace Hausenfluke. He is also survived by a brother, Bob Griffis of Coleman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, and a sister, Adelia Griffis.

Memorials may be made to Coleman County Medical Center, 310 South Pecos, Coleman, Texas 76834, First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 983, Coleman, Texas 76834, or the Coleman County Youth Activity Center/Goree Expo Center, P. O. Box 766, Coleman, Texas 76834.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Stevens Funeral Home, 400 W. Pecan Street, Coleman, Texas.

Please leave condolences for the family at www.livingmemorials.com.