Mark is a new Episcopalian, confirmed in May, 2015; however, he has been married to an Episcopalian for 40 years. He attends the Episcopal Church of Wise County and is a carpenter and an active volunteer
Whitley was hired by the Santa Fe Railway (now BNSF) in 1965 and was in a supervisory position from 1976-2000. His duties included holding disciplinary meetings for employees who did not follow the company rules, and he issued discipline as needed. He investigated derailments, personal injuries, crossing accidents and wrote reports on each incident.