Belve Dansby "Dr. Dan" Marks III

Belve Dansby “Dr Dan” Marks III passed away on November 16, 2020, at the age of 75. 

Dan was born in Memphis, TN to B.D. and Jimmie Marks and grew up in Haynes, AR with his younger sister Doris Jean Marks Voss.  His lifelong love of being outdoors was born from spending Sundays with his dad hunting and fishing after church.  He spent his childhood working with the family’s general store and played football at Forest City High School (Go Mustangs!) as a teen.  He attended Oklahoma State University (Go Cowboys!) in Tulsa to study Civil Engineering, receiving his bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees.  He served in the US Army as part of the Corp of Engineers and was the youngest full professor at the University of Tennessee prior to moving to Raleigh, NC to work in the private sector. 

He was passionate about his specialty of dam safety and repair, recognized as an expert in his field, and working until shortly before his passing; he was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and Association of State Dam Safety Officials.  He shared his love of wildlife, hunting, trapping, and fishing in many adventures with friends and family; he was a member of the North Carolina Trappers Association and worked with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission on wildlife conservation and preservation. He enjoyed music and dancing; the only thing he loved more than hearing a good story was telling one himself, often laughing harder than those hearing the story. 

He was married to Donna Anderson Marks for almost 30 years, living in Arden, NC.  He is survived by 3 children with his first wife Jane Finley: daughters Courtney Marks Difruscio (husband David) and Dana Marks and son Ben Marks (wife Ashely) and a stepdaughter Vanessa Brank.  He has 6 grandchildren: Justin Hayes, Morgan Difruscio, Terra Griffin, Amy Daugherty, Haley Difruscio, and Margot Daugherty and 1 great-grandchild: Anaiah Griffin.  

A memorial service will be held when all can gather to remember and celebrate him in the spring.  In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to Fletcher United Methodist Church in Fletcher, NC

“Take a young person to nature and teach them all that you can so they become involved in God’s world.”   

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