Mark Edgar Collum

Mark Edgar Collum, age 73, of Oklahoma City passed away Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at his home. He was born December 18, 1951, in Marion, Indiana, and spent most of his childhood in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Mark attended Vanderbilt University upon graduation from Shawnee High School in 1970. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1974 and then obtained his Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1978. He practiced law in Oklahoma City for several years, worked as Chief Deputy for the Oklahoma County Court Clerk, and after two decades of service, retired from the Department of Human Services as Budget Manager in 2017.

On July 1, 1978, he married the love of his life, Jan Dipboye. Mark and Jan were married 47 years and shared a wonderful life together. They enjoyed traveling, bicycling, camping, and hiking in the US as well as in Europe. They were blessed with two children, Doug (Kate) Collum of Denver, Colorado and Evangeline (Jason) Shockley of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Mark loved his family and delighted in his role of "Pops" to his grandchildren, Irie and Van Collum, and Ophelia and Vespa Shockley.

He was preceded in death by his parents Hugh and Catharine Collum.

He is survived by his wife Jan, his children and grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother David (Shari) Collum of Shawnee, Oklahoma, sister Leslie Ann (David Penn) Collum of Murfreesboro, Tennessee and sister-in-law Debbie Dipboye (Jerry) Griffin of Bethany, Oklahoma; and cousins Barbara (Dock) Lawson of Lexington, Oklahoma and  Russell Graves of Las Vegas, Nevada. Mark loved his nephew and nieces, Clay Collum, Andrea Murrell, Catherine Penn, Elizabeth Penn, and Andrea Webb. Also left to mourn his passing are his dear friends Allen and Cindy Bourne of Placitas, New Mexico, Rick and Kelly Krause of Oklahoma City, Ray Gibson of Norman, and many other beloved friends and family.

Mark loved all genres of music and shared the joy and connection that music brought him with everyone who came through the door. He had a disarming wit, was an adventurous cook, and had a love of literature from childhood.

A celebration of life will be held at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Shawnee in the spring. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK in the care of the OU Foundation.