Mark Vincent Larner

“Mark Vincent Larner was born on October 20, 1951 in Terrell, Texas, the youngest son of Don C. Larner and Margaret E. Larner. His family moved to Brownwood, Texas in 1958. In 1966 he and his family moved again, this time to Austin, Texas. Mark attended and graduated from Austin McCallum High School in 1970, where he was a letterman on the track team. Mark went on to Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos and earned a degree in business administration.

With his business degree in hand, Mark now came to the first crossroad in his life. He ultimately took the path that would lead him to his true life’s calling. He decided to take his love for science and become a teacher and educator.

For the next two-three years, Mark lived in his grandmother’s family home in Dublin, Texas where he could attend Tarleton State University and watch after his grandmother. After earning a master’s degree in education, Mark traveled a few miles up the river to Glen Rose, Texas to accept his first teaching position as a young science teacher. His students thought he was the second coming of “Mr. Wizard”.

Mark’s next teaching stop was an offer from the Carrollton/Farmers Branch school district for a position as a Jr. High science teacher. Mark loved to see a sparkle in a student’s eye that would truly make a difference in that student’s life. Many of Mark’s former students would stop by his classroom years later to tell him how big an influence he was in their lives.

Mark devoted his entire life to his family. He was the family member who knew all the aunts, uncles, 1st and 2nd cousins, who they married and the names of all their children. Mark affectionately became known as “Uncle Mark” to many of his extended family and to many outside his family. He spent many enjoyable hours attending youth sports games, piano/dance recitals, and band concerts of his “kids”.

Mark traveled to many special places where he always seemed to find at least one family member or friend who would offer him a place to stay for the night. He was filled with an adventurous spirit of life and fun. One of his highest accomplishments was the successful ascent of the summit of Long’s Peak, a 14000 ft. mountain in Colorado.

Mark continued to work in CFB-ISD until he retired after 25 years of a well-chosen rewarding career. He spent his retirement traveling, hiking, going to the San Saba River with his brand-new travel trailer and spending time on the Dublin ranch. He devoted much of his time volunteering with school outdoor science projects, visiting and babysitting. He also served the community as a member of the North Texas Master Naturalists chapter.

Mark is preceded in death by his parents and brother Edward Larner. Mark was a life-long Methodist and a member of Arapaho United Methodist Church in Richardson.

He is survived by his brother, Eric Larner and wife Jane of Carrollton, Texas, niece, Karen Sulkowski, husband Nick, and sons George and Gordon of Dallas, nephew Austin Larner, wife Annie, sons Dalton and Remington of Longmont, Colorado.

Mark died in his home on July 2nd. A memorial service will be held at Arapaho United Methodist Church in Richardson (1400 W. Arapaho Rd, Richardson, Tx 75080) at 2pm Saturday August 6th, 2022.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Arapaho United Methodist Church Mission Fund.”