Obituary of Mark Land Beal

Mark Land Beal, 64, passed away on Tuesday, August 18th, 2015 in Fort Worth, Texas, from a six year battle with skin cancer. Up until a year ago Mr. Beal had been a 40 year resident of Manhattan Beach and Rancho Palos Verde, California. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, 2700 McPherson, Fort Worth, Texas, 76109, on Saturday, August 29th at 1 pm. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, UT 84741; bestfriends.org. Mark was a 1968 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School, Dallas, and a 1972 graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder. He worked for Mattel Toy Company for 20 years and then started Mark Beal & Associates Promotional Agency, which he ran for the next 20 years. Mr. Beal was an avid runner who traveled the world to run marathons, such as Athens, Rome, London, and for a decade he ran a marathon every other month. His favorite marathons were The Boston Marathon, Big Sur, and the New York City Marathon. Several times a week he cycled from his office on Manhattan Beach to Malibu on the beach strand and back which would allow him to take his "protein bar" break and watch the filming of the latest episode of Bay Watch. Mark also participated in the Solvange Century 100 mile bike race. However, his favorite pastime was sitting on his deck with family and friends watching the whales and dolphins put on a show for him as Catalina Island was in the background. He was known for making a fine cup of coffee and his many friends always tried to learn his secret. He was not that great of a griller, though. The family would like to give special thanks to Mark's nurse, Mikey Allen. Survivors: Wife, Ellen Galloway Beal; beloved cats, Daisy, Soutie, and Blackie; brother, Terry Hansen and wife Clarissa, Arlington, Texas; brother-in-law, Randy Galloway and wife Janeen. Aledo, Texas; nephews, Jeff Hansen and wife Jacque, Arlington, and Eric Hansen, Dallas, Texas; nieces, Gina Wood and husband Russell, Aledo, Jennifer Giddens and husband Chad, Aledo, Texas, and Sarah Ingram, Arlington; great-nephews and nieces, Grant, Ryan and Jason Hansen, Quincy and Beau Ballard, Georgia and Sadie Giddens, Stella, Ty, and Harper Ingram; and his California family of friends. Martin Thompson & Son Funeral Home Fort Worth, 817-292-2250