Mark Hitt

Mark Allen Hitt, 53, of Jefferson City, Mo., died Thursday, March 21, 2013, at St. Mary's Health Center.

He was born Oct. 24, 1959, in Cape Girardeau, son of Horace Clinton and Frances Lavern Hennecke Hitt. He and Deborah Jean McClurg were married April 16, 1988, in Jefferson City.

Growing up, Mark helped on the family farm with his father in Cape Girardeau. His love of agriculture inspired him to obtain a degree in agribusiness from Southeast Missouri State University in 1982.

Mark was manager of Business Expansion & Attraction for the Missouri Department of Agriculture. He was with the department more than 28 years, helping promote and market Missouri agriculture all over the world.

He was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church, serving as an elder and chairman of the ushers and serving on the finance committee. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha and Sunrise Optimist Club and volunteered with ABLE Learning Center. Mark enjoyed fishing, woodworking, winemaking and playing Scrabble with his family and friends.

Not only was he faithful to his church, Mark was a devoted husband and father. He was a role model to those who came to know him.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Nathan and Logan Hitt of Springfield, Mo.; his parents of Cape Girardeau; two siblings, Vicki (Larry) Yeargain of Cape Girardeau and Randy (Amy) Hitt of Arnold, Mo.; paternal grandmother, Lillian Hitt of Cape Girardeau; and mother-in-law, Regina McClurg of Jefferson City.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Hitt; and father-in-law, James L. McClurg.

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. today at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home in Jefferson City.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson City, with the Rev. Russ Bowder officiating. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church Building Fund, 803 Swifts Highway, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at www.dulletrimble.com.