Mark Franklin Sutton's Obituary
Mark F. Sutton, 68, a retired Tulsa, Oklahoma-based midstream industry trade association executive, passed away on June 5, 2025, surrounded by those who loved him deeply, following a sudden, unexpected health issue and brief hospital stay.
Mark was born in Shreveport, LA, on November 23, 1956, to Carl and Doris Sutton, and the family moved to Oklahoma when he was six. His enthusiasm for life surfaced early, as he loved biking, being around water, and doing pretty much anything outdoors with family and friends. The passion led to his many favored lifelong activities that included water sports, fishing, boating, and motorcycles.
He attended Jenks High School and then, with a nudge from his dad, went to Oklahoma State University. It was also his engineer father who encouraged him to shift from biology studies (Mark had inspired to work for Jacques Cousteau) to engineering instead, because of job market demand and salaries. Mark listened and earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
Along the way, he was a proud member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity that resulted in many cherished friendships and memories. Mark considered his OSU choice and engineering-degree decision among his best ever.
He also put marriage to wife Patty into that same “best” category. Mark and Patty Allen married in 1986. The two shared many wonderful adventures throughout their respective careers, which they continued after their retirements. Among his greatest were family times with their kids and grandchildren.
Mark built a successful career in the natural gas industry, which began in 1980 with Mid America Pipeline Co. upon graduating from OSU. In 1982, he was recruited to be the director of technical services for the Gas Processors Association. He became the organization’s top executive in 1992, leading both it and sister-group GPSA until his retirement in 2019.
Throughout his 37 years of service, Mark was instrumental in championing every stage of the association’s evolving transformation to become the GPA Midstream Association. Under his leadership, the 100-year-old group stayed true to its original research and technical roots, while also greatly expanding its advocacy efforts and voice, including establishment of a GPA Midstream office and staff in Washington, D.C.
Mark is a former board member and president of the Petroleum Club in Tulsa; he was honored with the Award of Merit from the American Society for Testing Materials; and he remained involved with the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) since its inception in 1996.
In 2020, Mark was inducted into the Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Hall of Fame, and awarded the Melvin R. Lohmann Medal, an OSU distinction honoring alumni for contributions to the profession or education of engineers.
In 2021, he was awarded GPA Midstream’s Hanlon Award, the midstream industry’s highest individual honor bestowed for career activities that have advanced the industry.
Mark's Celebration of Life service will be 3:00 PM, Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel.
What’s your fondest memory of Mark?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mark?
Share a story where Mark's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mark you’ll never forget.
How did Mark make you smile?