Mark A. Pharr, Jr.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 9, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peters Catholic Church, in New Iberia for Mark Reese Pharr, Jr., 83, who died peacefully on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, in Lafayette surrounded by family. Interment will follow in Holy Family Cemetery. Rev. Jude Halphen will be the celebrant. A gathering of family and friends will be Friday, February 9, 2018 from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., in New Iberia. A rosary, led by the Mens Rosary Group, will be recited at 9:30 a.m. Friday. A native of New Iberia, Mark graduated from St. Peters College in New Iberia, earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Louisiana Tech in Monroe, and went on to earn a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He worked for General Dynamics on the B-58 bomber in Fort Worth, and then formed Thermo Kinetics in New Iberia, where he was known to have invented the microwave oven. He sold Thermo Kinetics to Hobart, and moved to Houston to be the CEO of Telxon. He returned to his native New Iberia and formed PetroStar with Dick Spears and Dale Cartiimiglia. He was a faithful Catholic and Eucharistic Minister often bringing communion to the sick and elderly. Mark loved to sing and play the piano, self-taught, and you could often find him singing in the church choir for mass, weddings and other church activities. He was a member of Chorale Acadienne and was their Director when they performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He was an avid pilot and sailor. Whether by land, sea or air, he enjoyed traveling with his longtime love and wife, Susie. He was a member of the Krewe of Iberians and a past King of the Krewe of Andalusia. He was well known for his unique intellect and laughing at his own jokes. With the arrival of his two granddaughters, he took special pride in teaching them how to play chess, building and repairing doll houses for them and watching them grow. Papa, as he was called by his granddaughters, was dearly loved. Survivors include his son Mark Tiger Reese Pharr III and his wife, Allyson Fox Pharr, of Lafayette; brother G. O. Pete Pharr, of New Iberia; Sarah Keese and her husband, Roger, of Geismer; and John Pharr and his wife, Beth, of New Iberia; grandchildren Alexandra Reese Pharr and Olivia Fox Pharr of Lafayette; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 50 years, Lucille Susie Pharr; his parents, G. O. Mike Pharr and his wife, Odette; and a sister in law, Patricia Pharr. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. G. Douglas Sagrera, Dr. Daniel Frey, the staff of The Blake in Lafayette, St. Josephs Hospice - Carpenter House, and long-time care giver, Linda. Pallbearers will be Pete Pharr, John Pharr, Roger Keese, Tyron Picard, Bart Broussard, and H. Christopher John. Honorary Pallbearers include Dr. G. Douglas Sagrera, Rene Broussard, Dr. Larry Thibodeaux, Roland Sylvester, and Mark G. Pharr, Jr. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Foundation in Lafayette, Louisiana. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd, New Iberia, 337.365.3331, is in charge of the arrangements.