Mark Allen Travis
September 1, 1955 ~ December 8, 2023
Mark Allen Travis, 68, husband, father, grandfather, son, loved one and friend died Friday, December 8, 2023 surrounded by his wife and daughters. His spirit has returned to God. Mark was born on September 1, 1955 in Fort Bragg, NC, and died in Wichita, KS. He grew up in Kentucky and spoke fondly about his childhood there.
Mark and his wife Ellen were together for 50 years. They had four daughters and six grandchildren, and built a life together full of tenderness, compassion and understanding. Before they had their daughters, Mark and Ellen went on many adventures together, including several cross country bicycle trips that he often reminisced about.
When he and Ellen began having kids his love of photography grew, as evidenced by the thousands upon thousands of photographs he shot on black and white film and developed in his basement darkroom. Most of the photos were of his wife and daughters. He said when they were born and growing up they were the most beautiful things he had ever seen. His fondness for his family was obvious to everyone who knew him.
He also cared for the children who came in and out of his house throughout his daughters’ childhood. Many of his daughters’ childhood friends considered him to be a second father or a father figure to them. He was exceptional at giving grace, understanding and generosity to everyone who stepped into his home.
Mark enjoyed the challenge of working on cars, especially his old Cadillacs, and was always available at a moment’s notice to help with car troubles. He invariably had a flashlight or an extension cord if you ever needed one. Mark had a lifetime love of art, music, philosophy, and electric guitars. He had a remarkable recall for all kinds of trivia, and could always name the actors (and their spouses, other work, and the ways in which they died) in his favorite old western tv shows and films. He had an unrelenting and clever sense of humor⸺until the very end.
Mark spent his professional life owning and running a successful screen printing business and was appreciated by the many clients and friends he made throughout his 40 year career. He enjoyed his work and was proud of what he was able to build. He was a talented and meticulous artist and designer. Mark was preceded in death by his father, Allen Wilson Travis; and his aunt, Martha Jane Sayre; and cousin, John Lynam. Mark is survived by his wife, Ellen Travis of Wichita, KS; mother, Ella Gene (Devon) Hobby of Benton, AR; daughters, Katie Lilley of Wichita, KS, Sally (Tyler) Caggiano of Andover, KS, Mary (Tatsuya) Hidano of Wichita, KS, Tracy Anne Travis of Champaign, IL; brothers, Tim Travis and Sam Travis; sister, Amy Rickard; cousins, Mayo Jane Lynam and Debbie Durham as well as many other cousins; grandchildren, Joaquin, Avalin and Emery Lilley, Elliot and Lincoln Caggiano, and Yuki Hidano.
A private family graveside service will be held.
Services in care of Downing and Lahey Mortuary- East Chapel.
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I first met Mark a few years back when we brought a large old loom, we had in storage to Ellen who we knew would put to good use. Mark was gracious and welcoming. The large hard rock maple wood loom was in pieces along with the heavy cast iron connections and bars. Mark appeared with all the tools he thought he might need to try to get it together. He was so adept at laying out the many parts and he and Rick worked patiently mulling over just how it all should go–(of course, no instructions included). Finally, after much trial and error, the loom had found a good home and we had found a new friend. I am so glad our paths crossed Mark and you will be missed.
Mark was one of the gentlest human beings I had ever met in my life. I worked for Mark and Richard at Allen Lee Screen Printing while i was in undergrad at WSU and working on a degree in sculpture. I would then return to work for him after competing my masters. In 2009, Mark screen printed a shirt using a technique that created raised, tactile cones on the shirts in the shape of a pyramid. As I was preparing for a trip to Paris, France, Mark asked if I would place that t-shirt on Jim Morrison’s grave. I took the shirt, found my way to the Morrison’s grave and laid the shirt directly on the tombstone. I photographed Marks shirt laying on one of his favorite musician’s final resting place. I then framed the photo and gifted it to Mark. I will NEVER forget the impact Mark had on my life. Mark was not only the best listener, but he also gave the soundest advice. He walked to a different rhythm in life, one of genuine compassion and love for life. Mark is someone we should all aspire to be in this one life of ours. Although he had much better hair than me, which I am still super jealous about, he was our Rock Star! I loved him for believing me in me and supporting me even on the most challenging days, he always brought reason and a sense of calm that made life and all the BS worth pushing through. To the Travis family…you are all in my thoughts and prayers. I met many of you over the years and my god did he love all of you unconditionally. Rest In Power Mark!
My brother in law Mark was the gentlest and most soft spoken man I’ve ever met. Ellen and Mark were true soul mates because she has the same sweet gentle spirit as he did. My daughter Kirsten spent most of her childhood playing with her 4 girl cousins!!! She was my only daughter and had 3 brothers. Summers spent playing in the creek beside their home. I’m sure this where she learned to tolerate (love?) bugs and maybe snakes. If I’m wrong I’m sure they’ll all let me know. 😉. Mark was a fantastic photographer and I loved that he did them in black and white and developed them in the basement darkroom. Such a nice man and he will be missed. I’m happy to know he’s safe in the arms of Jesus ❤️
dear mark,
i loved you like a father, but i don’t really know what that means. when the guy i called dad died, i didn’t know it was 4 days from your birthday. i never knew your birthday. but then, i could never remember if my mom’s birthday was may 20th or may 22nd and i still get it wrong after all these years. so i guess me not knowing the birthday of a guy who feels a like my father isn’t exactly off-brand.
when i knew you were going die, i started reaching for you. in music, in memory, in meditation. i found my love for you in my burning palms. i stood beside your hospital bed and reached for you, in my mind. i felt your wiry, grey hair. i kissed your forehead. i said goodbye. i saw your kind eyes, i heard you say my name: myyyyykey.
i don’t know what this feels like. i don’t know what this means. there is time for that later. for now, i see your face bathed in golden hour sunlight, smiling. and now, that smile reaches your eyes.
goodbye, mark. enjoy the ride. you deserve it.
Mark is the oldest of my first cousins and our families first loss among our cousins. Too young in my mind and heart. What I remember most about Mark is how simple he made his life and seemingly never caught up in anything other than his immediate family and giving time to them. An inspiration even from afar to his cousins still in Ky. Always missed his annual calendars at Christmas from many years ago. Prayers and our love Scott Manley and family
One Christmas Mark gave me a backgammon/ chess board he had made out of wood blocks. It was so cool and well made. Another Christmas he gave me an ounce of silver. I thought that was cool too.
Before the Cadillacs, Mark had a couple of VW bugs… I ended up buying both from him at different times. Mark taught me how to adjust the valves on them – keeping them to the correct tolerance was important to good performance.
There was another Christmas when grandpa was still alive and doing well, when I brought the game trivial pursuit to play -the categories of science, literature, movies were always the challenge when I played with others.. but here we had Grandpa answering every science question with ease and Mark getting the right answer for anything related to literature and movies .. I remember smiling to myself thinking these guys are amazing !