Roll Call Tribute
William "Mark" Price '82 July 7, 2021 11:24 AM updated: July 7, 2021 11:37 AM
William Mark Price
May 11, 1960 - July 5, 2021
W. Mark Price passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family, on Monday morning July 5, 2021. Mark fought a brave two-year battle with stage IV colorectal cancer.
Mark was a proud 5th generation Ellis County native and grew up on the family farm in Forreston, Texas. His true joy in life was working on the family farm with his dad. Whether it was helping to farm as a child or as an adult chasing down livestock or tinkering on a daily project, it was truly his most favorite place on Earth. The only thing that comes close to matching that joy is eating his mom’s fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Mark was a country boy through and through.
Mark graduated from Waxahachie High School in 1978 then attended Texas A&M University. He received his bachelor’s degree in agriculture education in 1981, with Cum Laude distinctions, and his master’s degree in agricultural education in 1982. He was a member of Texas A&M Collegiate FFA, Texas A&M Student Body Senate and a member of Alpha Zeta Ag Honor Fraternity.
Soon after, Mark worked for the former Land Commissioner Garry Mauro in the Texas Land office in Austin before moving home to Waxahachie where he became the district coordinator for then State Senator Chet Edwards.
Mark then worked with his close friend Cam Fearis for Fearis Appraisals for a short period of time before being appointed Ellis County Treasurer in 1992 by the Ellis County Court. This continued a tradition of Price family members in Ellis County service, which includes his fraternal grandfather W.D. Price who was the Ellis County District Clerk from 67-73 and his sister Melanie Price Reed who has been the Ellis County District Clerk since 2006. Mark thoroughly enjoyed working for the citizens of Ellis County for 10 years with his assistant and the current Ellis County Treasurer Cheryl Chambers.
He was very proud of the fact that he was the last Ellis County-wide elected Democrat in 1998 and hopes for that to happen again one day in the future.
Mark started working as the Denton County Assistant Treasurer in 2003, working under Denton County Treasurer Cindy Brown while commuting for over 18 years.
He was an active Member of CTAT - County Treasurers Association of Texas and was Voted Outstanding County Treasurer of Texas in 2000. Most recently, Mark was one of three statewide county officials awarded his 25-year pin at the Texas Association of County Investment Academy in June of 2021.
Mark was elected to WISD school board in May of 2003 just two weeks before beginning his job with Denton County. He served tirelessly on the school board and was honored to be President during the last three years of his term. The Prices have over 74 years of commitment and support to WISD with all three being graduates of WHS, inclusive of his wife’s years of teaching and his 12 years of WISD School Board tenure. Being active in WISD while raising his daughter was a personal, as well as a proud, public commitment to his family and his community. Mark was honored to give 43 years of Public Service to the community, 31 of which belong within county government.
The community of Waxahachie and WHS gave so much to Mark throughout his lifetime. Through strong educators and role models such as Mr. Ronald Appleton, Dr. Ronnie Hastings and Mr. Doug Keese, he knew he could more forward to Texas A&M University and be successful. Mark was active in Waxahachie Leadership Team class of 1994, Historic Waxahachie Inc., West Ellis County A&M Club, Texas A&M University Century Club, Ellis County Democrats, was a founding member of M6 + 1, helped in the original planning for the Boys and Girls Club of Waxahachie and was the treasurer of the Forreston Cemetery Association.
While in the county treasurer’s office or as a school board member, Mark fought fiercely for every tax dollar to be spent frugally and with purpose, having oversight from within as well as transparency for the public was essential. As a product of WISD himself, he truly believed in maintaining a quality experience for all the children.
Mark was a lifelong Presbyterian. He was a member of the Forreston Presbyterian Church, as a child, where he thoroughly enjoyed attending with his parents and grandparents.
Mark married his high school sweetheart and fellow Aggie, Emily O’Brien, in July of 1983 at Central Presbyterian Church of Waxahachie, which is where they had met at Westminster Fellowship in High School.
Their daughter, Marisa Lee, was born in 1994 just 2 weeks after he won his first county-wide race. Mark was thrilled when she married at Central Presbyterian Church, in July of 2018, almost 35 years to the day of his wedding.
Mark’s biggest challenge as an Aggie may have been having a Longhorn daughter. He even survived and enjoyed raising the Hook’ Em Horns while singing The Eyes of Texas at the games. He learned to wear his maroon and burnt orange combo with pride!
Mark is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Emily O’Brien Price; his daughter Marisa Lee Price Teeter and husband Brooks of Dallas; parents W.D. (Billy) and Kay Price of Forreston; sister Melanie Price Reed and husband Jeff of Waxahachie; sisters-in-law Mary Thomas and husband Marty of Tulsa, and Sharon McGee of Fort Worth; nieces Rev. Stefani Reed-Meyer, husband Jake, and great nephew Miles Price of Plano and Morgan Reed; nephews Matt McGee and wife Rachel of Lenexa and Trent McGee, wife Rachel, and great nieces Elizabeth Ella and Collins Cora of Fort Worth.
Mark was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Mr. & Mrs. Robert Hamlin; fraternal grandparents Mr. & Mrs. W.D. (Bill) Price; mother-in-law Bettie D. Gray and husband Dean; brother-in-law Johnny McGee.
Services are provided by Boze-Mitchell-McKibbin Funeral Home in Waxahachie, Texas. Visitation will be held from 5-8 pm on Friday July 9th, 2021, at Central Presbyterian Church in Waxahachie. Handicap access is available at the north entrance.
Please join us in wearing Mark’s favorite color in his honor, Aggie Maroon, to the Celebration of Life Service at 10 am on Saturday, July 10th, 2021, at Central Presbyterian Church. The service will be followed by a brief graveside service at Forreston Cemetery on Lumkins Road in Forreston, TX.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be given to the Forreston Cemetery Association. Gifts may be made via Venmo to @ForrestonCemetery OR by check to c/o Melanie Reed, Secretary/Treasurer, 229 Brookbend Dr, Waxahachie, TX 75165.
© Copyright 2021 Waxahachie Sun
May 11, 1960 - July 5, 2021
W. Mark Price passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family, on Monday morning July 5, 2021. Mark fought a brave two-year battle with stage IV colorectal cancer.
Mark was a proud 5th generation Ellis County native and grew up on the family farm in Forreston, Texas. His true joy in life was working on the family farm with his dad. Whether it was helping to farm as a child or as an adult chasing down livestock or tinkering on a daily project, it was truly his most favorite place on Earth. The only thing that comes close to matching that joy is eating his mom’s fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Mark was a country boy through and through.
Mark graduated from Waxahachie High School in 1978 then attended Texas A&M University. He received his bachelor’s degree in agriculture education in 1981, with Cum Laude distinctions, and his master’s degree in agricultural education in 1982. He was a member of Texas A&M Collegiate FFA, Texas A&M Student Body Senate and a member of Alpha Zeta Ag Honor Fraternity.
Soon after, Mark worked for the former Land Commissioner Garry Mauro in the Texas Land office in Austin before moving home to Waxahachie where he became the district coordinator for then State Senator Chet Edwards.
Mark then worked with his close friend Cam Fearis for Fearis Appraisals for a short period of time before being appointed Ellis County Treasurer in 1992 by the Ellis County Court. This continued a tradition of Price family members in Ellis County service, which includes his fraternal grandfather W.D. Price who was the Ellis County District Clerk from 67-73 and his sister Melanie Price Reed who has been the Ellis County District Clerk since 2006. Mark thoroughly enjoyed working for the citizens of Ellis County for 10 years with his assistant and the current Ellis County Treasurer Cheryl Chambers.
He was very proud of the fact that he was the last Ellis County-wide elected Democrat in 1998 and hopes for that to happen again one day in the future.
Mark started working as the Denton County Assistant Treasurer in 2003, working under Denton County Treasurer Cindy Brown while commuting for over 18 years.
He was an active Member of CTAT - County Treasurers Association of Texas and was Voted Outstanding County Treasurer of Texas in 2000. Most recently, Mark was one of three statewide county officials awarded his 25-year pin at the Texas Association of County Investment Academy in June of 2021.
Mark was elected to WISD school board in May of 2003 just two weeks before beginning his job with Denton County. He served tirelessly on the school board and was honored to be President during the last three years of his term. The Prices have over 74 years of commitment and support to WISD with all three being graduates of WHS, inclusive of his wife’s years of teaching and his 12 years of WISD School Board tenure. Being active in WISD while raising his daughter was a personal, as well as a proud, public commitment to his family and his community. Mark was honored to give 43 years of Public Service to the community, 31 of which belong within county government.
The community of Waxahachie and WHS gave so much to Mark throughout his lifetime. Through strong educators and role models such as Mr. Ronald Appleton, Dr. Ronnie Hastings and Mr. Doug Keese, he knew he could more forward to Texas A&M University and be successful. Mark was active in Waxahachie Leadership Team class of 1994, Historic Waxahachie Inc., West Ellis County A&M Club, Texas A&M University Century Club, Ellis County Democrats, was a founding member of M6 + 1, helped in the original planning for the Boys and Girls Club of Waxahachie and was the treasurer of the Forreston Cemetery Association.
While in the county treasurer’s office or as a school board member, Mark fought fiercely for every tax dollar to be spent frugally and with purpose, having oversight from within as well as transparency for the public was essential. As a product of WISD himself, he truly believed in maintaining a quality experience for all the children.
Mark was a lifelong Presbyterian. He was a member of the Forreston Presbyterian Church, as a child, where he thoroughly enjoyed attending with his parents and grandparents.
Mark married his high school sweetheart and fellow Aggie, Emily O’Brien, in July of 1983 at Central Presbyterian Church of Waxahachie, which is where they had met at Westminster Fellowship in High School.
Their daughter, Marisa Lee, was born in 1994 just 2 weeks after he won his first county-wide race. Mark was thrilled when she married at Central Presbyterian Church, in July of 2018, almost 35 years to the day of his wedding.
Mark’s biggest challenge as an Aggie may have been having a Longhorn daughter. He even survived and enjoyed raising the Hook’ Em Horns while singing The Eyes of Texas at the games. He learned to wear his maroon and burnt orange combo with pride!
Mark is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Emily O’Brien Price; his daughter Marisa Lee Price Teeter and husband Brooks of Dallas; parents W.D. (Billy) and Kay Price of Forreston; sister Melanie Price Reed and husband Jeff of Waxahachie; sisters-in-law Mary Thomas and husband Marty of Tulsa, and Sharon McGee of Fort Worth; nieces Rev. Stefani Reed-Meyer, husband Jake, and great nephew Miles Price of Plano and Morgan Reed; nephews Matt McGee and wife Rachel of Lenexa and Trent McGee, wife Rachel, and great nieces Elizabeth Ella and Collins Cora of Fort Worth.
Mark was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Mr. & Mrs. Robert Hamlin; fraternal grandparents Mr. & Mrs. W.D. (Bill) Price; mother-in-law Bettie D. Gray and husband Dean; brother-in-law Johnny McGee.
Services are provided by Boze-Mitchell-McKibbin Funeral Home in Waxahachie, Texas. Visitation will be held from 5-8 pm on Friday July 9th, 2021, at Central Presbyterian Church in Waxahachie. Handicap access is available at the north entrance.
Please join us in wearing Mark’s favorite color in his honor, Aggie Maroon, to the Celebration of Life Service at 10 am on Saturday, July 10th, 2021, at Central Presbyterian Church. The service will be followed by a brief graveside service at Forreston Cemetery on Lumkins Road in Forreston, TX.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be given to the Forreston Cemetery Association. Gifts may be made via Venmo to @ForrestonCemetery OR by check to c/o Melanie Reed, Secretary/Treasurer, 229 Brookbend Dr, Waxahachie, TX 75165.
© Copyright 2021 Waxahachie Sun
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