We've lost one of our own

[Woodwalker9]

I have received word today that one of our own, Mark Daniels(markrocks), son of Jim(geoj) and Beth(topkitty98) Daniels of Jacksonville, has been tragically killed in a freak accident. Mark and his family have diffidently had a positive impact on geocaching in Arkansas and I felt the geocaching community should be informed. At this time, I do not know any details. Please keep this family lifted up in prayer during this very tragic time.

[cachecrazies]

Our hearts ache for them and our thoughts and prayers are with them.

[Gaddiel]

My heart aches to hear this news. There are no words to express how we feel right now. Beth, your family is in our prayers. May God wrap His loving arms around you and comfort you.

Wayne & Melody

[Phantom_491]

Having met TopKitty & Markrocks for the 1st time when they were doing my cache (Phantom's Haunt), and cached with them at various locations, and events I know what a bright young man he was, and that he was definately going to be going places. It's tragic when something like this happens to someone so young.

I know nothing we say can ease the pain & suffering that Joe & Beth are feeling right now. But my prayers and thoughts are definately with them and their family during this impossible time!

Dennis

If there is anything I or any of us can do please let us know!!!!

[LadyEngineer]

Beth,

Our deepest sympathy to you and your family. If there is anything at all that we can do, please just ask. You have our prayers and our hearts.

With all our love,

Marty, Jo, Emily and Erin.

[Gaddiel]

Does anyone know of the funeral arrangements?

[LadyEngineer]

No we haven't found anything out yet. I know a teacher at the school Mark attended and I am trying to get intouch with her. If I find out I will post it.

[LadyEngineer]

I have Beth's address from the Meet and Greet in Aug. If you would like to send a card, please pm me and I will return with the address.

[arkansas_stickerdude]

I hope that the topkitty family is doing ok and if there is anything that we cando I hope someone can post a request. I'm sure that the Geocaching Family WILL do anything needed to help.

I'm very sorry to here about this, expesially about someone so young. It makes you think about the family arround you.

[grandkid44]

Dear God , my heart and prayers go out to this wonderful couple . We arent supposed to outlive our children . LE, please send me the address so we can send a card..also, we had money left over from the event, please use $50.00 of that to send flowers from all us Arkansas Geocachers. We will request an intended mass and will have him on our prayer list at Christ The King . May God be with them.

[arkansas_stickerdude]

I was going to get ahold of LE and suggest the same thing about the flowers. I think that would be a very good idea. I 2nd the motion to send flowers to topkitty in this terrible hour of need to let her know how much we care.

[Woodwalker9]

I just talked with Beth and she seems to be holding up well for now. Tentative plans are for visitation tomorrow evening from 6 to 8 at the North Little Rock Funeral Home in NLR with services Thursday afternoon. If they made the newspaper deadline, the obituary will be in tomorrows Arkansas Democrat Gazette. I know that the family has been touched by the response of the Arkansas geocaching community.

[Gaddiel]

Thanks Woodwalker for the details. If anyone is interested, the address for the funeral home is 1921 North Main. Phone number is 758-1170.

[LadyEngineer]

I just called the funeral home and visitation is at the North Little Rock Funeral home from 6-8 pm Wednesday 10-27-04. Funeral service will be at the 1st United Methodist Church in Jacksonville on Thursday at 2 pm.

It isn't posted yet but the funeral list it's obituaries online at: http://www.northlittlerockfuneralhome.c ... efault.asp (http://www.northlittlerockfuneralhome.com/FuneralHome/Default.asp)


I called the florist order a plant with a few fall fresh flowers to add color. It will be delievered before visitation tomorrow.

[Geoark1]

The geoark1 family extend their deepest sympathy to TopKitty and geoj at this time. Our prayers are with you and your extended family. We offer ourselves for anything you need at this time.

the geoarks

[cachemates]

We are so sorry to hear of this tragedy, Our hearts and prayers goes out to TopKitty and her family. May God comfort you in this time of sorrow.
Jerry Bonnie & Abby.

[nonnipoppy]

Our deepest sympathies go to TopKitty's family. We met them while caching over a year ago while searching for a cache near Pinnacle Peak. May God be with you. nonnipoppy

[Bebopishere]

My daughter has a class with Mark, and she is terribly upset. We have met Mark a couple of times, and he was a wonderful person. We miss him already as part of our small but close knit group of cachers. We all hold a bond together, a love for adventure, and mystery, and treasure. Mark left his print in Jacksonville, with his cache. We will be placing some flowers there. If there is anything we can do, please let us know. Rex, Wanda, Myranda, and Conner Thomen in Jacksonville. 501 985 1796.

[lukywest]

http://www.legacy.com/Legacy.asp?Page=L ... Id=2753741 (http://www.legacy.com/Legacy.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=2753741)

I found this obiturary so people could read on it. I didnt realize he was 13. That is to young, it hurts my heart to hear. Sorry to hear about your loss, God will guide you thru this.

[Phantom_491]

I don't know yet if I can make the funeral, but I will be at the visitation (6-8PM) tonight. Let's get together and show our love and support to the family!

Dennis

[firechief1956]

Our thoughts and prayers are with you adn your family geoj and topKitty


Jimmy and Iris

[arkansas_stickerdude]

The online guestbook is here I suggest everyone to write something in the book for Topkitty and family. Mark Clement Daniel (http://www.legacy.com/Guestbook.asp?Page=GuestBook&PersonID=2753741) GuestBook

[GEO]

Our GEO*Prayers are with you.
God bless and comfort thee in these times of need.
I am not one much on words in these type situations but if there is ANYTHING I CAN DO ??????????ASK!!!!!!!!

[BACKPACKNJACK]

Beth (topkitty98) was sitting at the table with me at the meet & greet at Burns Park and I was picking at her for making me file my first DNF and what a meany she was for placing her hide where I couldn’t find it and me and her and Mark were having fun (being sneaky) with our pocket caches. Then I read this.
You know Life is fleeting and each moment is precious but how in the world can you envision that the bright eyes and smile of such a handsome young boy would be gone so soon. What a tragedy, it hurts my heart and I wish I knew what to say, but I don’t. I am at a lose for words and can’t believe he is gone. I am so very sorry.
God be with you.

[BooCrew]

Beth and family,

We have never met but know my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Michele

[LadyEngineer]

We just got back from Mark's funeral and it was a very moving beautiful service. Beth is doing as well as any of us would be at this time. I talked to her yesterday on the phone and she said that so many people have been so kind to her. Her only concern was in a few weeks when people get back to their lives and what will she do then. I told her that she had only to asked and I'm sure there were any number of us on this site that would love a reason to go cache with her since Mark is no longer there to be her partner. Many of you have asked what you could do. Please help in the weeks to come to remember that she may still need someone to talk to or go caching with or just a friendly hello. I believe that this group is great at just being a friend.

[igpoobah]

I've been tied up for a while with work and just got on here and saw this bad news. My condolences go out to the family. No one should have to lose a 13 year old.

Eric
IGPoobah

[topkitty98]

Hello to everyone!
It's been 11 months (in a couple days) since we lost our precious Mark. I have learned SO very much about God and His all-enveloping love and His grace than I ever imagined before. I appreciate all of you guys so much. I feel that I can call on several of you and know you will listen or come running.

Last Friday was Mark's birthday. We had multitudes of balloons that we released from my school, from home (MawMaw), from our house (Geo-J and I) and from some of my co-workers' houses. They had cards attached to them to wish Mark a happy first birthday with Jesus and to ask that if they could to log on Mark's website guest book where they had found the balloon. So far we have heard from a small town close to Stuttgart. Of course, I instantly think - Hey they need a cache there! HAHA

Anyway, just to tell ya'll thanks. I have a couple of goals for caching that I want to accomplish. I figured if I wrote them down here, I'd be more accountable. First is that I want to resurrect the Spring Valley Multi cache that I had hidden with Mark last October. I have a new container that Jerry fixed for me which is totally awesome. I want to get this one back out before it's been a year. Next, I want to host a "rolling" event in December. Stay tuned for that one! Mark would have really loved it - it will be fun!

THANK YOU ALL!!!!
Beth aka topkitty98 & always, forever, Markrocks916

http://markrocks916.friendpages.com/

[topkitty98]

Okay,

I know this is a very old thread to be bumping back up, but I just wanted folks to know that I have FINALLY resurrected the Spring Valley cache. It is no longer a multi, just one stage. Very simple but very powerful I hope. The cache container was designed by cachemates along with the cammo.

Jim actually went with me to hide it - this is the first time he has physically hidden one with me, but it is special. There was a lady visiting that afternoon and Mark would have rolled to see his Dad carrying what he carried out across the cemetery and through the woods with stealth! (When you hunt it, you'll understand!) We had a nice time doing this together - just Mark's Mom and Dad - and even if no one ever hunted for it, we'd know that we had fulfilled a promise to Mark to keep going because life is good and that's what God wants for us. Sometimes it is so tough to get up and breathe another day in a world without him, but this place reminds me in a very tangible way of what we have to look forward to. That is peace.

Thanks to each and every one of you for what you have done for our family.

And in the sentiments of the cachecrazies, may Mark Rocks in _____________ caches spread throughout the land!

I love you Mark, always - forever.
Mom >^..^<