Mark Colman Willits' Obituary
Mark Colman Willits, age 73, of Fayetteville, AR, passed away Thursday, November 7, 2024. He was born April 5, 1951, in Lawrence, KS, a son of the late Harold Willits and Waneta Colman Willits. He was also preceded in death by a grandson, Nathaniel Douglas Willits.
Mark was a graduate of Lawrence High School where he lettered in football. He attended Kansas State University majoring in Dairy Science where he met his wife, Gail and was on the Dairy judging team. His first passion was working with cattle but fate led him to a full family life and career in the dairy industry.
His four sons were born in Kansas before the family moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas where Mark was a quality control and production supervisor at Hiland Dairy for 36 years. He retired in 2020 at age 69.
Mark relished his duty as a grandfather, plying grandchildren with pudding and cookies, and always answering a play phone.
Mark was an avid reader, spent time cutting and delivering firewood, and vacationed at the Crater of Diamonds State Park where he and his family found many diamonds of great sentimental value. By the end of his diamond mining days he ranked among the top finders of diamonds at the park.
Serendipitously, Mark was present at the St. Louis Cardinal’s baseball game when Mark Mcguire broke Roger Maris’ homerun record.
Survivors are his wife, Gail Willits; his sons, Russell Willits, Jacob Willits, Casey Willits, Cory Willits (Deisy); sisters, Ramona Willits, Lori Brunt; a brother, Lance Willits; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday November 11, at Nelson Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville. Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 12, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fayetteville. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas or Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Kansas.
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