Mark Stephen Barrow

Mark Stephen (Steve) Barrow passed away peacefully at his home in Crestview, Florida, on Thursday, November 20, 2025. Born on September 12, 1955, in Pensacola, Florida, Steve grew up on his family’s farm, Dogwood Acres, alongside his three sisters. A graduate of Crestview High School (Class of 1973), Steve continued his education at the University of Florida, earning a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. While at the University of Florida, he met his future wife, Janet Burditt. They were married at The First United Methodist Church in Crestview on July 22, 1978.

Steve’s passion for the outdoors and agriculture shaped his life’s work. After a few years farming the family farm at Dogwood Acres, he became a County Agriculture Agent in Citrus County, Florida in 1982. In late 1983, he accepted an opportunity to manage Flying P Ranch in Dunnellon, Florida, where they lived with their two daughters. He spent nearly four decades managing Flying P Ranch and additional agricultural properties also owned by Secret Promise, Ltd. In addition to producing thousands of head of beef cattle annually, he grew and marketed hundreds of acres of watermelons, peanuts, and other crops. Steve retired in 2020 and returned to Dogwood Acres, the place where his story began.

Steve’s sharp eye and deep respect for wildlife were evident in everything he did. Though his days often began at sunrise and ended after sunset, he always made time to pause and appreciate the beauty around him—watching wildlife, taking in a sunset from the highest point on the ranch, and sharing stories of nature with his family. Away from the ranch, he loved kayaking, fishing, hunting deer and quail, scalloping and crabbing, and vacationing in the Smoky Mountains.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. George W. Barrow, Jr., and Mary (Curlee) Barrow, his sister Patti Barrow Weatherford, and brothers-in-law Darrell Smith and Capt. James R. Seaman, Jr. He is survived by his wife Janet (Burditt) Barrow, his daughters Courtney (Joe) Lai and Chelsea (Josh) Murphy, grandchildren Alexis and Alana Lai and Olivia, Juliette, Hannah, Silas and Micah Murphy; his sisters Jan (Sumner) Rutledge and Susan Barrow Smith, brothers-in-law Kerry Weatherford and Arthur Burditt, III, sisters-in-law Nancy (Gary) Erdvig and Betty Seaman, and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Steve’s life will take place on Monday, November 24, 2025, at Whitehurst Powell Funeral Home. Visitation begins at 1:00 PM, followed by the funeral service at 2:00 PM. Burial will follow at Live Oak Memorial Park, with a reception for family and friends at the Ward Ranch Lodge.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to Gentiva Hospice and Sue Cox for their compassionate care.

Whitehurst-Powell is honored to serve the Barrow family during this most difficult time.

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