“That’s the way Uncle Mark would have wanted it!!”

I find this saying echoing around my house a lot. There are So many ways it can apply to your day. Really simple things that seem super simple, Or really tough decisions where you are searching for confidence in ur choice. I embody that free, playful spirit that Mark wore so well whenever I can. Because we know it feels good to feel good because our friend taught us this along with so many other things. I Miss his face like crazy tho. happy birthday uncle mark.

Written by Makio Griffiths-Henery on April 25, 2018

When I was 4, dad took me out to go golfing.  I was so happy because I knew dad was pretty good and I wanted to "learn from the best" in my world.  So we got going and I was really bad, and it took forever to get through the course.  After we were about halfway through the golf course, we went over a big hill, and dad was doing as fast as the cart could go, and when we got to the top, I somehow slipped under the cart cover and dad ran over my left foot.  Instead of crying, I just started laughing at what just happened.

If I could tell dad anything it would be that I'm carrying on the broken bone traditions, and I love you dad!!

Written by Athena Griffiths-Henery on April 25, 2018

One of my favorite things my dad did was tell me and Makio stories.  Whether we were crying or laughing, he always felt the need to tell a story.  It was so fun and enjoyable listening to him tell stories to us when it was time for bed.  No matter how late or how tired he was, he would always continue to tell the story.  Almost all the ones I can remember involved an animal but most had a mountain lion or bear in them somewhere.  It didn't matter how he felt, he always told us stories and the crazy adventures he had.  Thinking of everyone today!! Love you!!

In mid August 2013, 4 months following the amputation of his right leg above the knee, Mark joined his dad and me for a trip to Utah.  He was still adjusting to the new prosthetic leg and working toward a more natural gait and the possibility of renewed physical activity.  So when we picked him up at home in Ashland and he saw his dad's bike on board, he thought it a good idea to bring his along as well.  
He stayed with Buzz and Jessica while we went about our visiting.  One afternoon, Don, his dad, said he was going bike riding and did Mark want to come along.  Being an ever willing participant, he said yes.  So we went to get him and the bike and travelled up Provo Canyon to Vivian Park.  
As he mounted the bicycle, there was a moment of uncertainty as the cycling shoe on the prosthetic didn't engage.  Don helped him to first click the prosthetic shoe in place and then they were off down the trail.  Nine miles they rode, enjoying the thrill of new found ability and the beauty of the canyon.  Nine miles is a long way and he was both tired and elated when they rode into Marrcrest in Provo.  He'd done what he set out to do!  We were all overjoyed for this exciting accomplishment and happy to be a part of it.
Today, October 20, 2016, Dad and I walked the bike path from Vivian Park to the dam below.  We remembered that day and shared our thoughts of Mark as we scattered some of his ashes along the Provo River.  
Mark, you are missed everyday and loved for all your gratitude and love of life! 

Don, Mark's dad, was always into Scouting so we were a scouting family.  From the time Mark became a Cub Scout, there was a lot of fun through the den and pack activities. Mark led the way for his younger brothers.  He loved the outdoors and all the nonsense the scouts could dream up on an overnighter.  He spent a lot of time with dedicated leaders as they helped him advance through Cubs, Boy Scouts, Venture Scouts and into Explorer Scouts.  

There was no question he was going to be an Eagle Scout-he'd be the first!  Of course, by then he was less interested in doing the work to plan, organize and execute the dreaded Eagle project!  No problem there-all resources were marshaled to make that final push. 

He'd decided that his project would be to have the Scouts visit every home in a geographical area (Pleasant Valley Ward) and teach households where and how to turn off the natural gas to their home in case of emergency.  He prepared a flyer to accompany the verbal explanation and left a special wrench for each home.  Bingo! The job was almost done.. He charmed his way through the board of review and together with 5 other members of his troop was welcomed into the Eagles nest 6 months before his 18th birthday.  He was always thankful for his scouting experiences and proud that he was an Eagle Scout..

As he moved into through adolescence and into adulthood, his hair grew longer and then into dreadlocks people who didn't know him were always surprised that he didn't look like the typical Eagle Scout yet he was always warmly welcomed to the Eagles Nest. He had great appreciation for what he learned as a scout, took the skills he learned there and both utilized and shared them during his life. Mark is indeed an eagle!

Many of the family had gathered in Ashland to bid farewell to Mark in this mortal existence.  I was lying on the couch near his bed watching and listening for changes in his breathing or to answer his call.  Those few hours alone in the darkness with him gave me time to reflect about my experiences with him on this earth.  I will always be grateful to have him fill my days with his final days.  I love you Mark and hope you are finally collecting the promised brownie points from Uncle Gary.

Love you bro. Today your nephew got a Bearded Dragon lizard, he named it Rasta Mark! We pray for you every day hanging out with all our other depated ones. Keep on rambling like a rambling rose! Happy Birthday bro. Love and happiness. Till me again!

When Mark was 14-15 months old, we began an addition to the back of our house.  Mark was fascinated by the contractors and followed them around, watching everything they did.  No doubt, they were happy when he went down for a nap so they could get something done.  Being good family men themselves, they did not complain.  Furthermore, they let him pick up the tools he could lift.  The hammer was of particular interest to him since he had a small wooden hammer and peg toy.  Eventually, he picked up a real hammer and tried to hammer a nail.  Considering his age, he was pretty good but the hammer was really too heavy for him to handle.  Grandpa Frandsen saw this and promptly went to the hardware store and bought him a small hammer.  The contractors built him a wooden box, gave him some large nails and Mark, the Builder began his life with real tools.
From that time forward, he was working on some project.  He fixed cars, bikes, built decks, sheds, glass shops, desks, and many more things I can't remember today. 

 In April 2013, he had his right leg amputated above the knee.  Shortly after his recovery, he and a friend built a fence and gate to close off the back yard where he was living.  He wanted to have an organic garden and that required keeping the deer at bay.  They like organic food too.  There he was on the ground digging a posthole, cementing the post, putting up the wooden fence slats and constructing a gate that could be easily opened and closed. 

Of all the things Mark created and loved, his children are the most precious.  Shortly before his death, he told his hospice doctor, that he hoped the legacy he built for Athena, Makio and Opie would help them understand love, joy and service in their lifetimes.  He built that important foundation of love for them to remember him always. 

There is a fairly large age difference between Mark and I so it isn’t like we spent a lot of our growing up years hanging out and doing stuff. However, when I was living on the East Coast and considering moving back to the West Coast, I came out for Thanksgiving to look at some different schools in both California and Oregon. My best friend Anne and I decided to take a trip up to Portland, OR and look at some schools along the way. Having recently found out that Mark and Erin were expecting their first child, I had obviously gone nuts and bought a ton of stuff for the new niece (Athena). I had never met Erin before, so Anne and I decided to stop in Ashland on our way back from Portland so I could meet Erin and drop off the things I had bought for the baby. I met Erin and Mark and we sat and chatted for a while about the anticipation of the upcoming birth of the baby as well as things that had been going on within the family. I hadn’t lived in California, at that point, for quite a few years so there were a lot of things that had changed and a lot of people I didn’t know. One of those people was Dave, Sharla’s live in boyfriend at the time.  Mark asked me what I thought of Dave and I explained that I hadn’t met Dave yet. Mark then wanted to know what I thought about Dave’s mullet and I said “What mullet?” Mark then started laughing and said to me “How could you not know about the mullet, it is his defining characteristic!” Mark and I had a good laugh over that for many years. We harassed Dave endlessly, even after the mullet got cut off.  It is sad to say, but making fun of the mullet became one of the small ways in which Mark and I bonded the very best. 

Once I had a friend in the hard times.
When I watch a sunrise he crosses my mind.
When I watch a sunset there is a tinge of regret. 
For life passes so fast, we want to hold on, to make it last.
But what if there are no worries and nothing is wrong.
What if we simply grow, progress and move on?
What if this life is just a short scene in a beautiful movie?
Wouldn't that be groovey?
I wish I knew, but this I know.
We come from love, we exist in love,
therefore we must continue in LOVE.
I love Mark and he loves me,
that's a fact for eternity. 

When Mark moved on I lost a brother, and I can truly say a piece of me went with him. I miss him everyday and can't wait until that time comes when I can give him a great big hug and just chill with my home chicken.

I miss you bro,

Buzz