Dennis Mark Batiste Jr.

Dennis Mark Batiste Jr., 32, of Taos, died Wednesday, July 25, 2012, at his home. He was born December 16, 1979, and raised in Lacombe, Louisiana. He graduated from Mandeville High School in 1998, where he was #40 and captain of the football team. As captain he received the Rodney Smith award, which is the highest honor for honesty and leadership. He started working in restaurants at 15 years old which led him to his wife, Jessica Marie Verslues. They married February 12, 2000. Later that year he was blessed with his first child, Ariona Marie Batiste, followed by Elijah William Batiste and Judah Harold Batiste. Shortly after, he moved to Jefferson City in 2003. Here he started working in carpentry. Through the Carpenters Union Local 945 he graduated from the MEI Kansas City Apprenticeship School in 2005. He was founder and owner of Possible Supply and was a member of Grace Evangelical Free Church. He was a baseball and football coach in the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation leagues for his children and was a MSHSAA football referee. Mark loved football and was a proud supporter of LSU and the New Orleans Saints. He took great pride in his health, running and exercising, and was well known for his cooking abilities, particularly Cajun food. His greatest passion was spending time with his kids. He loved cooking with Ariona, playing football with Elijah and wrestling with Judah. He was their biggest fan. In addition to his wife Jessica and children, Mark is survived by his his mother, Paulette Butler Batiste of Mandeville, Louisiana; father, Dennis Mark Batiste Sr., of Lacombe, Louisiana; sister, Susan Brown and husband Robert of Tampa, Florida; and brother, Ryan Batiste and fiancÈe Victoria Thomas of Abita Springs, Louisiana; grandparents, William and Verna Butler and Adrian and Violet Batiste; father and mother-in-law, Dale and Emilie Verslues; four brothers-in-law, Jason Verslues and wife Dinah, Mark Verslues, Matt Verslues and wife Tara, and Derek Verslues; nieces and nephews, Christian (CJ), Harper, Sebastian, Sadie, Mackenzie, Jacob, Hailey and Kamryn. Friends will be received from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday at the Houser-Millard Funeral Home. Additional visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Monday, July 30, 2012, at the First Assembly of God Church, where funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Paul Meinsen officiating. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Mark Batiste Children's Educational Fund via Jefferson Bank. Arrangements are under the direction of HOUSER-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 2613 W. Main St., (573) 636-3838. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.millardfamilychapels.com