Mark James “Pappy” Leavell, 54, of Mansfield Texas passed away on March 3, 2017, at home after a lengthy illness. Mark was born August 8, 1962, in Lackawanna, New York. He went to school at PS 29 as well as Burgard Vocational High School in Buffalo, New York where he had an interest in Aviation Mechanics. He was at various times a baker, a cook, a Building Trades specialist for Payless Cashways, Home Depot, 84 Lumber, and Builders First Source before becoming disabled in 2010. He also leveled mobile homes. He could bake pies or barbecue chicken on the grill that were out of this world. He was the son of the late Joseph C. and Theresa M. (Shea) Leavell of Buffalo, New York; the brother of the late Daniel Leavell and the late Dave Leavell of Buffalo, New York and the late Loretta Carpenter of Jamestown, New York; the biological father of the late Nick Adams of Texas. Survivors include his grieving widow Jacqueline (Turner) Leavell, who he married on September 5, 1998, and their son Joseph G. Leavell of Mansfield, Texas; her children Jessica White of Crowley, Texas, Mark White Jr. of Burleson, Texas, Whitney Parbs of Everman, Texas, his biological son Dakota Waldner of Canada; his siblings Joseph Leavell of Massachusetts, Mike Leavell and Rita Mitchell of New York. Mark was blessed with 5 grandchildren: Jenna, Tyler, Rendon, Madison, and Trooper; 3 of which he helped raise for almost 2 1/2 years preceding his death. He had a plethora of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, neighbors, and mentors who helped him along the way. Mark enjoyed woodworking, camping, mentoring his children and grandchildren, fine dining, listening to the birds, listening to music, traveling, playing the lottery, gathering seashells, watching golf, sitting under his favorite shade tree, and being a hard worker. He was a protectionist and loved his wife and family deeply. He made painstaking gratitude lists to see where he could improve his life. He used to tell people to keep trudging the road to happy destiny and he lived wholeheartedly by that motto. He was as smart as a whip and could hold a conversation with anyone about anything at any time. He still had a childlike wonder about him and was passionate about life. He was well loved by his wife, family, friends, neighbors, and mentors and the community in which he lived won’t be the same without him. He will be sorely missed. Before he became ill he was quite the social butterfly never meeting a stranger and always eager and willing to be helpful to someone. During his lifetime people mentored him along the way as he lost both parents at the age of 12. As he grew older he knew that paying it forward meant everything, no matter how big or small. Mark was a wonderful, loving husband and he was the dad and the granddad he didn’t have to be. Job well-done…..life well lived. May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sunshine warm upon your face. May the rains fall upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand. Godspeed, my sweet Mark, until we meet again. A private celebration of Mark’s life will be held at the Botanical Gardens in Fort Worth at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a meaningful organization or your favorite charity. Condolences for the family may be offered at www.lonestarcremations.com or at www.epassing.org