Mark Meredith's Birthday is Today

Mark Meredith,he loved the ocean.


Mark is now in heaven.

He died from multiple-myeloma, at the time, he was one of the youngest people to come down with it. 

Mark was a great kid. Full of imagination, artistically talented, loving and a joy to be around.

Because is birthday was so close to Christmas, we celebrated it 6 months later on June 28th, so he could have birthday parties that his friends would come to. When he was 16, he said, "I"m old enough to have my birthday at the right time."

He was a Cub Scout and loved every minute of it.

He had a hard time with reading, and when he was about to go to high school, he hired a tutor to help him.

Mark started working when he was 12. He washed dishes at a several different restaurants through his junior high and high school years. In summer time he'd go out on fishing boats and filet the fish that was caught. When he was a senior he worked as a janitor on the Seabee base.

He married young and had a son. During that time he did janitorial work in two different hospitals, in one he helped a nurse deliver a baby when no doctors were around.

His marriage didn't last. He worked at Winchell's donuts as a baker for a time. In construction after that.

When we moved to Springville, he came soon after. He worked as a gardner at River Island. Then he because a bus driver first for a traveling camp for developmentally disabled children and adults, then for the Porterville Sheltered Workshop, and he did other jobs for them.

That's where he met the love of his life, Leah. The married and he became the step-father to her three children and he loved them. The owned a little house that he loved. Mark and Leah went to work for WalMart Distribution Center. Mark was having health problems and his last job was for a box company. That was when he learned he had cancer.

He sang in the choir at church and loved singing.

His illness took a great toll on him. During the days his wife worked, he came to stay with us, and we had some wonderful times with him. He loved movies and eating out--though he couldn't keep much food down.  His father and I cherish the time we had with him.

He spent his last few days in the hospital. The night he passed, Leah, her daughter Robin, and I were with him. One of the doctors came in and put his arm around me and said, "It's time to let him go, Mama." And I knew it was so.

I am grateful for the time we had with our son. I know he is healed and having a glorious time with our Lord in Heaven.

Of course I miss him, but he is in a much better place.

Blessed to have Mark as a son.

Marilyn

Mark and Leah

Mark and his big sis, Dana.


Comments

Morgan Mandel said…
Thank you for sharing your moments with your son with us.
Thonie Hevron said…
It sounds like Mark was the perfect son for you and Hap. His smile is his father's. What a wonderful tribute to a well-lived, well-loved life. Thank you for this, Marilyn.

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