Funeral services for Mark Lee Longino, 61, of Martin, LA will be held at 11 A.M. Thursday, December 19, 2024 at Abundant Life Center with Bro. Ken McLaren officiating and Bro. Olan McLaren assisting. Interment will follow in Holley Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 P.M. until 8 P.M. Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home and from 9:30 until service time on Thursday at Abundant Life Center.

Mark Lee Longino was born on August 12, 1963 to Merse and Shirley Longino, their first born son and passed away December 13, 2024.

Mark went to school most of his life at Hall Summit High School where he graduated in 1981. Mark attended NSU for a while but quickly decided that wasn’t for him. He then attended Ayers to Air conditioning and Refrigeration school. He began working at Coca Cola in 1987 where he earned the community name of the “Coke Man”. Mark always worked hard and gave his all to his customers. He loved his coworkers, his many customers and lots of acquaintances that he met along the way. Mark retired in 2023 and loved retired life.

Mark could talk to someone for just a short time and at the end of the conversation he had made a bond, snagged a recipe or cooking tip, a common interest or even sometimes common kin folks. Mark was definitely a people person.

Mark met Mary Ann at Bams Handy Dandy. On their first date he told her that he loved her, and they were going to get married. Although Mary Ann was a little skeptical at first, he quickly proved to her that he was the one! They were married on Good Friday in April 1987, it truly was a Good Friday.

Mark and Mary Ann were blessed with four precious children. Daniel Ethan, Steven Lee, Allison Faithe and Amanda Caroline. Mark loved these children and was so proud of each of them and their many accomplishments. All you had to do was ask and he could talk for hours about them. He was proud of the education that they were all able to get first at Riverdale Academy then at different Universities.

Mark was also so thankful and loved their spouses. Trevyn, Alexandra and Zach were not in-laws, they were his children also. He loved each of them and was so proud of them.

Second only to his children, Mark’s greatest joy was his grandchildren Avery, Madelynn and Anniston. He was the greatest Pappy offering big hugs, side by side rides, fish fries, strawberry ice cream cones and just about anything he was asked. Mark learned just a week before his death that baby boy Ogden would be joining the family. He was beyond excited, spending lots of time trying to think of “tough” baby boy names and sending to Trevyn.

Mark loved God and if you were around him long, he was telling you about God’s goodness and grace and about his many blessings. He loved sharing the story of his precious Avery’s Miracle.

Mark was a man that could fix anything, or he would Google how to fix it. He loved doing things for others, helping in any way needed at the church or with the water system of which he served as President. Mark also took care of 3 cemeteries in the community, which he took very seriously.

Mark loved the outdoors whether he was hunting or fishing or sitting on the carport drinking his coffee watching the squirrels. Mark loved “his place”. Every time he rode through the woods he always said, “Thank You God for blessing us with this place.”

Mark never left a conversation whether it was a visit, a phone call or text without telling his family that he loved them. His signature statement to all was “watch out for the deer and hogs”.

He will be so missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Merse and Shirley Longino; brother, Johnny Longino; maternal grandparents, L.B. and Thelma Nichols; paternal grandparents, Marcus and Myrtle Longino.

Mark is survived by his wife of 37 years, Mary Ann Lawrence; two sons, Daniel Longino and wife Alexandra and Steven Longino; two daughters, Allison Ogden and husband Trevyn and Amanda Laborde and husband Zach; three granddaughters, Avery Longino, Madelynn Odgen, Anniston Longino, and one on the way; sister, Christy Gay and husband Mark; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Pallbearers will be Daniel Longino, Steven Longino, Trevyn Ogden, Zach Laborde, Jeremy Lawrence, and Blake Wren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holley Springs Southern Methodist Church, 2745 Hwy 507, Coushatta, LA 71019 or Ochsner Foundation, Memo: Ochsner Pediatric Heart Failure and Heart Transplant Fund, 1514 Jefferson Hwy BH 607, New Orleans, LA 70121.