Mark Kelly Starnes

Mark Kelly Starnes, renowned musician, composer, and son of H.B. and Lorene Starnes was born in Poplar Bluff on February 20, 1960 and concluded his career of earthly service to the Lord Jesus Christ on April 9, 2020.

Mark attended Poplar Bluff School system. He played in the PBHS Marching Band and graduated in 1978. Later in the early 80ʼs he majored in music at Three Rivers Community College.

Mark was raised in a large Christian family. He was blessed with an uncanny musical talent from youth and played piano and organ at the First Church of the Nazarene.

Being a sort of “wild child” Mark performed locally with the “pre-grunge,” grunge band Echo Park and wrote and recorded the haunting strains of “Lonely Man,” a piece he was in the process of re-engineering.

Mark soon returned to his Christian roots and began to exclusively use his God given talent in service to the Lord, his true love. He played organ with New Covenant Fellowship Praise Team and Pastor Jerry Moore. During this period he recorded “The Alpha Project,” his first professional recording before moving from Poplar Bluff. He continued his ministry in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. After moving back to Branson, Mark found his niche with a local recovery ministry, Church Army Branson. He led Praise and Worship and played keyboards in The Church Army Band.

Shortly thereafter he formally launched his Christian music recording career with “Instrument of Praise,” an opus of prayer and praise songs; which reveal Markʼs innermost love and devotion. IOP was soon followed by the more soul searching, concept album, “Empty Pew.” Both collections have highlighted songs on Youtube music videos.

Mark made his home in Branson with his wife and favorite sojourn partner Stacey. They attend FaithLife Fellowship where Mark was a faithful member of the Praise team. He sang in the choir and played the organ with unmitigated passion . Mark loved music, his church, his wife, and family.

Mark has two children, Brandi Nichole Starnes (Scotty Barunica) of Branson and Sean Kelly Starnes (Ariel) of Springfield, MO. and three grand children whom he adores. His grandsons Mattix and Dax Barunica of Branson and one granddaughter.

He has four brothers, Harrison Lee Starnes of Poplar Bluff, Michael Starnes of Doniphan and Eric T Starnes of Poplar Bluff. One brother, Gregory Lynn Starnes preceded him into heaven. There are also five sisters; Rebecca Keele of Greenville, MO., Laura “Bunny“ Dodson of Dexter, Shawna Till of Poplar Bluff, Amy Saunders of Scottsdale, AZ. and Patricia Starnes of Poplar Bluff.

Plans for a celebration of Markʼs life to be held in Poplar Bluff and in Branson however are yet incomplete and will be announced soon.