Mark Allan Hampton, the son of Dr. Lavere Hampton and Leota Fuhr Hampton was born on February 18, 1956, in Jefferson City, Missouri. Mark passed away in the early morning of June 23, 2024, in the Burko Hunting Area, Moduli Region of Tanzania, making his age 68 years.
Mark graduated from Summersville High School in 1974, and while in high school he was very active in high school sports. Mark was the Missouri State Trap Shooting Champion for two consecutive years in his 11th and 12th grade years. He was also awarded All American Junior from the Amateur Trap Shooters Association. He continued his athletic prowess as a pitcher for the College of the Ozarks Bobcats Baseball team during his time in college.
Mark was united in marriage to Karen Rae Overmiller in September 1979. Mark had an extensive and varied work history, always in service to others. He worked for a brief time for the Missouri State Water Patrol. Mark was elected and served as State Representative for the 147th District. He was a volleyball coach, softball coach and teacher at Summersville High School. He held the positions of Principal and Superintendent for Summersville R-2 School District. Mark was also able to parlay his passion for handgun hunting and shooting into being an author, writer, and columnist for various magazines and publications. He served as Executive Director for the Grand Slam Ovis Club from 2018-2022.
Mark was a member at First Baptist Church of Summersville where he was saved and baptized at an early age. Mark was recently ordained as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Mountain View, Missouri where he also taught his beloved Sunday School class. Mark was active in his community as well as some of his hunting organizations. He served on Texas County Memorial Hospital Board and Summersville Development Cooperative Board, serving for many years as Vice President. He was a board member of Grand Slam Ovis Club, and a member of Safari Club International, serving as co-chair of the Record Book Committee.
Some of Marks favorite memories include coaching his girls’ softball teams to consecutive All-Conference Championships and winning four district volleyball championships and a 4th place title in Missouri State Volleyball. He and Karen always cherished the bonds, friendships, and memories from those years.
Mark grew up hunting and fishing as a way of life and loved doing so with his wife, family members, and friends. Whether it be at home shooting squirrels, calling up a wild turkey, hunting whitetail deer on the family farm, or hunting abroad for dangerous or exotic game in foreign countries, his passion never wavered for the next hunting outdoor adventure.
He was preceded in death by his father Dr. Lavere Hampton, his mother Leota Hampton, and brother Ronnie Hampton.
Those left to mourn Mark’s passing are his wife Karen, brother Mike Hampton and wife Sandy of San Antonio, Texas, sister-in-law Beverly Hampton of Mountain View, Missouri, nephews Jeffery Hampton of Rockwall, Texas, Michael Wayne Hampton of San Antiono, Texas, nieces Angie Osguthorpe of Ogden, Utah and Heather Danielle Lopez of San Antonio, Texas, cousins Cheryl Rose Frazier of Bentonville, Arkansas and Jerry Wayne Griffin of Ash Grove, Missouri, sister-in-law Karla Irvin of Neosho, Missouri and a host of great nephews and nieces.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mark’s memory may be made to the Summersville Cemetery or the Summersville Senior Center. Donations can be left at the funeral home.
