Mark was the middle son and a the more quiet of us DeMars kids when we were young; and so at times he seemed to be in the shadows just a bit. Music changed all that for him…
From a young age Mark loved music and loved to sing. He even sang at Michele and Lyle’s wedding. From bands such as Country Jam, The Arnie Wolff Show, and Big Ears- Mark enjoyed his years playing bass guitar and singing. I remember both band practice at the house, as well as attending many of his local performances. It was fun growing up in a household where I learned about all types of music from the 50s forward first hand! I will always remember his rich deep voice that much resembled Elvis- specifically the song “Fools Rush In”.
As much as Mark loved music, years passed and soon he would be married and expecting his first child, Robyn. Oh how he loved adored this little girl who now looked at him with wonder! Soon a second daughter would come along..Allyson. He so loved and enjoyed his girls as they grew into the young beautiful women they are today. He was more proud of his daughters than anything else he had done to the point in his life. They were his greatest accomplishment and he could not have loved them more.
Then the fateful day came that he received his diagnosis of MS and unfortunately had been misdiagnosed for the previous decade or more so it had progressed significantly. This of course hit Mark hard along with dealing with other personal family issues at the same time. Mark was ANGRY…crushed by the cards he had recently been dealt. It took some time for that anger to soften, and only rear it’s head when certain topics arose in conversation.
Mark moved forward working as long as his illness would allow. He went from a cane, to walker and eventually a scooter and mobility van and tried to keep some sort of normalcy and independence in his life as long as he was able.
Mark struggled with chronic daily pain for years…something I can empathise with; but none of us will ever know just how deeply painful the day to day was for him.
Mark made the decision when the end came, and I have nothing but respect for his choice to take control and make the conscious decision to say when. It was of course very sad to see what his illness had done to his physical spirit; but comforting to see he had his inner spirit right to the end- and he soon would be pain free and with our Savior.
Rest in peace, Mark
Love,
Your little sister Marcia ❤