Mark Martin

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Mark David Martin, 65, passed away unexpectedly Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, in Independence.

Mark was born in Midland, Texas, in 1957 to Barbara Coy Martin and Herschel Raye Martin, both deceased. He grew up in many places — Texas, Louisiana and California — before graduating from Plano (Texas) Senior High School. He graduated from Texas Tech University in 1980 with a degree in accounting and worked for Conoco Oil Co. before the Lord called him to His ministry.

Mark received his master of divinity from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in 1991. He served as pastor for Trinity Lutheran Church in Egypt Mills from 1993 to 2004 and as associate pastor for St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau from 2004 to 2019. Then, after completing training in intentional interim ministry, he served at Concordia Lutheran Church in Sikeston, Missouri, from 2019 to 2021. He was serving as an intentional interim pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Independence at the time of his death.

Mark had many loves: his Lord; his wife, Betty; his family; his motorcycle; history; all sports; the arts; and finally learning how to sing. He lived a Christ-centered life with a deep, abiding faith in God and tirelessly worked to do His will through his wise counsel and compassionate care. He was a loving husband, devoted father and adoring grandfather.

Mark is survived by his wife, Betty; daughter, Leah; daughter, Rachel, and her husband, Anthony, and their children, Matt, Lily and Melody; sister, Kris, and her family; cousins and their families; and by the many thousands of friends and families whose lives he touched through his ministry.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 100 N. Frederick St. in Cape Girardeau.

A service of celebration will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, at the church. It will also be livestreamed on Trinity's Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to either LCMS Missouri District Shared Ministry fund or Monett Missouri High School Choir.

Meyers Funeral Chapel in Blue Springs, Missouri, is in charge of arrangements.