Mark C. Maberry

Mark Clifton Maberry 56 beloved physician suddenly was separated from his family, his community, and this life on July 15, 2015 in Abilene. The funeral service will be held on Monday July 20 at 10 am at the First Central Presbyterian Church of Abilene, with interment to follow at 4 pm at Greenwood Cemetery in Fort Worth. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene, Texas. Dr. Mark Maberry was born on July 22, 1958 in Fort Worth, the son of Robert Maberry Sr. DDS and Joan Davis Maberry. He was a 1977 graduate of Fort Worth Country Day School, where he played football and studied a lot. Mark, a fierce life-long supporter of Longhorn sports, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with highest honors in history in 1980 and was initiated into Phi Beta Kappa. He attended UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas where he earned his MD in 1983. After a residency In Obstetrics/Gynecology at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, Dr. Maberry completed at fellowship in maternal fetal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and served on the faculty there until 1993 when he entered private practice in Fort Worth. While there he concentrated on performing complicated deliveries often involving medically at risk mothers and children. One of his duties with his group was to man a satellite clinic in the west Texas metropolis of Abilene. Here he fell in love with the people and the place and opened what became a highly successful solo practice, Abilene Perinatal Associates. Dr. Maberry excelled in his profession. He was certified in Obstetrics/Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, and Clinical Genetics. He was the recipient of numerous professional honors, and was greatly respected by the medical communities of Abilene and north Texas. Mark often praised his magnificent office staff, who were like family to him; crediting them with much of the success of his perinatology practice. Mark possessed a brilliant and well-rounded intellect potentiated by an insatiable curiosity. He loved books and cinema; collected art and fine automobiles. Mark was also a notable wine connoisseur, and at one time wrote a weekly wine column for the Abilene Reporter-News. He had a particular passion for classical music and grand opera, especially the music dramas of Richard Wagner, sometimes singing along in German with the thundering sonorities of the Ring of the Nibelungen. Despite the depth of his intellect and his often-lofty cultural interests, Mark was quite humble and down-to-earth; he never had a harsh word for anyone. Mark was also a fun guy who never took himself too seriously: laughing at silly movies and TV shows, sitting through Seinfeld marathons and thrilling to old monster movies. He dug the Beatles, Doors, and Rolling Stones, and other bands of Classic Rock. Mark had a sparkling sense of humor and was master of the truly atrocious pun. He was also a pretty good golfer. Mark often commented about how fortunate he was to have so many wonderful friends. Mark Maberry was generous in his philanthropies. He was an unstinting donor to nearly every local charity and non-profit, often opening his magnificent home to these organizations for home tours, banquets, and other fundraisers. Three years ago he hosted a dinner for rock star Phil Collins for the benefit of the Grady McWhiney Foundation and Buffalo Gap Historical Village. Mark’s greatest legacy was the thousands of children he helped bring into the world and the comfort he provided to anxious parents whom he guided through often-difficult times. He brought solace to those whose children were beyond his skill and healing powers with wisdom, quiet sincerity, kindness, patience, and grace. Although he had no children himself, he loved those babes as if each were his own. Mark recently told a close relative that he believed he had been blessed with the best possible life. That he had dedicated this life to helping so many of God’s children to be born was his proudest accomplishment. Mark’s parents preceded him in death. Survivors include brother Robert T. Maberry Jr. DDS, PhD and his wife Anita, of Houston (formerly of Abilene), brothers Philip Davis Maberry of Abilene and James Michael Maberry of Cleburne; nephew Eric Austin Maberry of Houston, and niece Elizabeth Maberry Smith of Dallas. He also had two grandnieces and two grandnephews whom he adored. Although Mark’s family has been devastated by his untimely death, the outpouring of grief and love from the communities where he made his life is a great comfort. Memorial donations may be sent to Anthony’s Blessing, a perinatal hospice ministry designed to support the parents of babies diagnosed with fatal birth defects, c/o Pregnancy Resources of Abilene, 2110 N. Willis, Abilene, TX 79603, or any other charity devoted to the welfare of the unborn.