Losing Mark we all lost a great friend. He was so in love with Luke and Paul. He was an awesome father. He's still watching over his boys I'm sure. Love to all who loved him, we sure did! Clay and Tammy Bartlett 

I think about Marky everyday! There isnt a day that goes by that he doesnt cross my mind! But more so today being his Birthday! I want to share a story that is dear to our family! When Marky was in Kindergarten he had worn a camouflage outfit to school! My Dad was to pick him up after school 

which wasnt usual as he was usually working. Shortly after school  started my mom recieved a phone call from school! They had Mark in the Office and he was inconsolable! They couldnt get him to tell them what was wrong! My mom had to leave her job and go to the school! When she arrived Marky was still very much upset! Finally he tells her what is wrong! He was convinced that because he was in Camo he would be invisible and my Dad wouldnt be able to find him at pick up! I remember laughing and thinking how funny! Now that Marky has passed I tell myself he must be wearing camouflage because I cant see him anymore! I know now the fear he must have felt! But I do see  him! I see him in his children! I see him in my family in our memories of him! I see him in the wind in the trees in the sky! Alrhough he may swem invisible I see him! To me Marky will always be that little boy with the big brown eyes afraid to be unseen and forgotten!  I see you Marky and I will never forget you!

I love you beyond this world!

I

I am always every day thinking of Marky! Not aingle day goes by that he doesnt enter my mind! Of course more so today being his Birthday! I want to share a story that is dear to our family! When Mark was in Kindergarten he had worn camouflage pants and shirt to school! Our Dad was going to pick him up after school that day which was not common as he ysually was working! Shortly after school started my mom tecieved a phone call from the school! They told her Marky was in the office and was crying and so upset and they didnt know what was wrong! My mom had to go to the school to figure out what is wrong! When she arrives Mark is still extremely distressed! Finally he tells my mom what is wrong! He was convinced that because he was dressed all in camouflage that he would be invisible and my Dad wouldnt be able to find him to pick him up sfter school! I remember laughing and thinking how funny! Now that Mark has passed I tell myself he must be wearing camouflage now and that is why I cant see him anymore!  I realize now the fear he must have truly felt! I want him to know we always see him even though hes not here! We see him in his children! We see him in each other in our memories We see him in the trees in the wind and in the simple things! To me Marky will always be that little boy with the big brown eyes who was worried he wouldnt be seen! We see you Marky and we love you and  will never forget you!

• April 6 2022 Marky would have been 43!  He  would have hated being that old but I truly wish he was given the luxury of aging! I had the honor of spending that day with my sister and Marks oldest son Luke. I knew there was no better way to honor Mark then spending the day with one of his children.  They were truly his everything and he was so proud.  It was an emotional day but I knew in my soul Marky was so happy we spent the day with his son.  I have had the privilege of watching his children grow.  They are each unique and special in their own way!  Each one of them carrying  the best parts of their dad!  I still think of Marky every day and I miss him so much.  His smile lit up my life even if only for a short time.  I hope all of you remember Mark and his beautiful smile.  Please don't stop sharing your memories!  It is all that his children have of him and I see them and I know they long to hear about their dad and they long for that connection.  So is not the first time Im embarrassed to say Happy Belated Birthday my sweet beautiful brother.

Two years! Two years have gone by and yet I still feel the loss as if it were yesterday! I hate “anniversary’s” of death! I hate how it is always a reminder of that one horrible day! One thing I do know about Marky, is that is not what he would want us to be reminded of today! He would want us to feel the crisp air and see the colors changing! He would want us to see the beauty in the changing of the seasons and to know that life goes on! He would want us to be happy and to love one another! I am truly reminded of his loss everyday so today is no different! I miss his crooked smile and his silly sense of humor! I miss seeing him with his kids and being truly happy! I miss my little brother not only today but every day!!!

Please think of him today and send a prayer for his kids! Remind them of their Dad and how much he loved them and how they meant everything to him!!!

Well, it is truly hard to share one thing! I have thought of so many over these last few days! His birthday would have been yesterday which is always hard!! He was always my baby! Even when he outgrew me!! Which was probably the day he was born!!! He was always a BIG presence!!
I love how he was truly always there for me! Always the protector and the fixer! There was not anything he couldn’t fix or do!
I would say what I most admired about him though was that material goods mattered very little to him! He was a very hard worker and provided for his family! He was rich by no means but always helped others! He wasn’t impressed by worldly goods or power or money! He lived a simple life with a HUGE Impact! He is truly truly missed every single day!

No one will ever know the loss our family feels every single day! We all move on and function as we must! Such is the cruel irony of life!!! I cannot express in words how much I loved my baby brother! He truly was one of a kind!
He was left to take care of 2 sisters and a mom at the age of of 6 when our Dad tragically died. He was the “ man” of the Family! He took that to heart! He took care of us girls as if his life depended on it! He carried the weight of the world on his shoulders! Bless his tender heart!!! I know he struggled in life! I know he messed up and made mistakes! One thing I never doubted is that in his core he truly cared and wanted to be everything to everyone! He was and always will be our hero!!! Very few people knew the true Marky!!! Such an honor and a privilege to have truly known him! I am so thankful to all of you who shared stories! I have to be honest and say that I have just read them tonight!! A year and a half later! I Didnt have the strength to read sooner! They are all so beautiful!! I loved my brother more than I can ever say and I miss him every single day! I hear him in the wind chimes outside my door or the birds in my trees!! I see him in the beautiful faces of his children who meant the absolute world to him!!! Life goes on every single day around me but I will never truly live again in this world!!! I will see you again my little “Ghee Bah”!!! Until then I miss you every single day!!!