UPDATE:
Funeral arrangements have been announced for Mark Solis, the Corpus Christi firefighter who lost his battle with cancer.
Public visitation will be on Tuesday, June 4th, at Memory Gardens Funeral Home from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with the rosary to follow at 7 p.m.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 5, at Corpus Christi Christian Fellowship. Open visitation and viewing will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., with the procession to follow.
Solis worked with the department for more than two decades. He is survived by his wife and three children.
To view Mark Solis' obituary, click here.
ORIGINAL:
Occupation cancer is now the leading cause of death among firefighters, according to the International Association of Firefighters. The disease recently took one of our own, as the Corpus Christi Fire Department (CCFD) lost a beloved member to colon cancer.
Mark Solis, who KRIS 6 News featured in a story on February of 2023, passed away from his long battle with Stage 4 colon cancer on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
Solis served with the CCFD for nearly 23 years as a firefighter and engineer. He served Fire Stations #1, #3, #6, #10, and #14. Solis was also assigned to the Training Division.
"He wanted to help people, make their days better and he did that at our busiest stations. And the people that worked with him and served with him, they loved him for it. And when he started fighting cancer, he came off a fire truck and still wanted to contribute," Chief Brandon Wade said in an exclusive interview with KRIS 6 News.
On the day Solis passed away, Chief Wade issued a statement explaining how his department was saddened by the loss of their brother firefighter. Despite his battle with cancer, Solis never let that stand in his way or dim his dedication to the CCFD.
“Mark Solis fought courageously against cancer, embodying the spirit of dedication and sacrifice. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to his family and friends,” Wade said.
Solis leaves behind a wife, an ex-wife, and four children.
Details of the funeral services have not been released yet.
In the meantime, Chief Wade has authorized the shrouding of firefighter badges until the services for Firefighter Solis are completed and has requested that residents keep the Solis family in their prayers during this difficult time.
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