At age 88, Mardist joined his Lord in Heaven where he will continue to watch over and protect all he loved, as he did during his lifetime. Mardist joined the Dallas Fire Department, April 1, 1948. He worked his way up through the ranks to Captain while developing life long relationships with his fellow firefighters. While he worked many stations in his thirty year career, he opened and retired from Station 46, where his heart remained. Along with his fire department career, Mardist was a successful entrepreneur with many successful businesses in the Dallas Metro area, selling and retiring from Restoration Specialist in 1987. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944 through 1947. He served proudly in Germany as well as state-side. Mardist was a Mason of the highest degree in the Dallas Lodge. Mardist cherished his wife Jo Ann to whom he was married for 67 wonderful years. He was a loving father to his children, Pam and Steve as well as a loving Pap-aw to his grandchildren, Keith and Nicole. He loved the many friends he made throughout his life and was loved in return and will be missed by all those lives he touched. To be his friend was to be special for life. He was a faithful member of Hampton Road Baptist Church for more than 50 years sharing his deep faith with his fellow Christians. He was born in Frost, Texas to Henry Mardist and Lonnie Dee Miles, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his loving wife, Jo Ann Cohagan Miles, daughter Pamela Miles Ray and husband Bobby, of Austin, son Steve Miles and wife Cindy of Dallas, as well as grandchildren, Keith Parks and fiancé Beth of Dallas, and Nicole Miles of Dallas, sister Joyce Dell Varner of Hillsboro and great grand-daughters, Andrea, Alyssa, and Taylor, great great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Services will be held at Hampton Road Baptist Church in De Soto on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 2:00 pm. Graveside services will follow at the Italy Cemetery. Visitation will be held at West-Hurtt Funeral Home, 217 Hampton Rd., DeSoto, on Wednesday, March 25th, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
Published in Dallas Morning News on Mar. 25, 2015