In Memory

Mark Kartchner

 

Mark Kartchner  1953 ~ 1984  —  the Ever-BOOMing Spirit of East High School

Born March 27, 1953, Mark Kartchner died of leukemia on June 14, 1984.  A 1971 graduate of East High School, he attended the University of Utah.  Mark, and his future wife, Gayle, met when she was president of an LDS sorority and he was president of an LDS fraternity.  Gayle remembers, "After graduating from the U, we were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple, and then headed off to medical school in Forest Grove, Oregon."  Mark graduated from medical school and practiced as an optometrist.  The couple had two children, daughter, Abby, and son, Bryce.  Mark enjoyed photography, camping, the outdoors and fly fishing (he liked to tie his own flies).  Gayle recalls: 'He was full of life and brought laughter and joy into our family.  Not a day goes by that I don't think of him.'

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Below: Mark & Gayle at graduation from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon in 1981, where he earned his Doctor of Optometry degree.

Below: Mark, Gayle, and Abby

 

  Below: Handyman Mark outside in the rain refinishing a door.  Abby is helping her dad by shielding him from the rain.

Below: Mark, Bryce (son), and Abby at park during the time Mark was going through chemotherapy for leukemia.

 Below: Bryce, Mark, and Abby sleigh riding.

Below: Abby, Mark, and Bryce at home.  Mark was a very loving, fun, and teasing father.  The children were always squealing when they were around their dad.

Below: Abby, Mark, Bryce, and Gayle in their final family photo.  The day after this photo was taken, Gayle reports, Mark went through another round of chemotherapy:  'We knew he would lose his hair again so we quickly got a family picture.  Unfortunately, I was sad and distraught and I think it shows in the picture, but everyone else looks really good.'



 
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07/02/10 05:25 PM #1    

Carolyn Goates (Campbell)

Thanks for taking time to make a tribute for my dad!- Abby Kartchner Turner


11/22/10 07:56 PM #2    

Paul Johnson

Oh, Kartch, how we miss you!  You were goofy, fun, and always alive with everything you did!  I remember my last conversation with you when you were so sick.  Thanks for being such a delightful nutcase, excellent friend, and good double-dater!  You have such a lovely wife and wonderful children.


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