Mark Thomas DeBard
December 3, 1960 - September 5, 2015

Mark Thomas DeBard was born December 3, 1960 at Hackley Hospital in Muskegon, Michigan to Robert and Phyllis (Sauders) DeBard. They lived in Muskegon Heights (Back in the good ole days)

Mark was a good baby. For his second Christmas he opened all his presents, then set them aside and went into the kitchen pulled out the pots and pans which were his favorite playthings. He also liked taking the can goods and stacking them on top of each. One time though he took all the labels off and no one could tell what was in the cans.

When Mark was a little over a year old the family moved to Grand Rapids where his Dad was made the manager of Liberty Loan Company. Mark and his mother used to walk up and down the hills where they lived and on September 21, 1962 his brother Tim was born. Mark was quite fascinated with him, always putting things into his crib. One time there was a piece of meat and another time the plug from the bathtub. The family soon moved back to Fruitport where Marks Dad became a pinsetter mechanic for Grandpa DeBard at Fruitport Lanes, which is now called Pin Crest Lanes.

The family lived on 2nd Street for a few years before selling the house to a friend of Marks dad and then moved into a house next to Grandma DeBard on West Spring Lake Road. Mark loved his Grandma dearly and she taught him how to do embroidery and to draw. When Grandma married a man named Ken Merritt the boys called him Grandpa Ken and they all became very close. Grandpa Ken was a truck driver and used to bring home gifts for the boys after being out on the road. But as the DeBard family would come to know, all good things must come to an end and Grandpa Ken unfortunately died in October of 1969.

Marks sister Kay was born on July 19, 1968 and he always adored her. Mark started his school days at Holmes Elementary in Spring Lake. He did well and quickly learned to read. He and his brother loved living in Spring Lake. There were woods across the street where they made forts and during the winter they rode snowmobiles, slid down the hills on sleds and toboggans and took walks with their parents.

When Mark was in the 5th Grade they moved back to Fruitport so his Dad could start a dental lab in the basement of their new house. Mark lost interest in school over the next few years. It didnt help that the school district was having financial issues and teachers werent always teaching the classes they were good in. Mark often thought he knew more that the teachers. Mark eventually quit school at age 17 and left home.

Mark met a couple and decided to move to Rock Springs, Wyoming with them. But after a short time the couple moved on and Mark was on his own. He learned to cook and found work installing car stereos and setting up waterbeds. After about a year he had enough and his dad sent him money for bus fare home. But Mark spent the money on Christmas gifts and hitchhiked home instead. Mark was never a very big guy but he wasnt scared of anything and got rides right to his front door.

After 6 months at home he got a job, bought a car and then got the itch and moved back to Wyoming. It didnt last long and he was back home by the next Christmas.

The family took a trip to visit Marks grandparents in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Mark liked it there and decided to stay. He found work as a cook and soon became the kitchen manager. He later learned auto mechanics, something he was really good at. Mark also met the love of his life there. A cute red headed Irish girl named Pam. They fell and love and were soon married. But the marriage wasnt meant to be and they divorced after a time and Mark moved back home to Fruitport.

Over the next several years Mark worked as a cook in several area restaurants and at a summer camp in Twin Lake. He eventually opened his own auto repair shop and was doing well until a motorcycle accident busted up his leg real good. They had to put a rod in it and there were further complications and his leg was never the same after that. In 2003 he moved back to Hilton Head for a short time and opened up a repair shop. But his partner ran off with the tools and once again he came back home. He continued doing auto repair. He said he could fix anything but a broken heart.

In 2012 mark was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer. He went through 4 months of radiation and chemo treatment and almost died several times. Eventually his health improved some and he went to live and work at Matts Pine Haven Campground in Walkerville near his parents cottage. He was trying to fix up all the old cars and equipment there but his health didnt always cooperate. He developed neuropathy, a side effect from his chemo treatments. He also became very close to the people at the campground and he considered them his 2nd family. As time passed Mark grew weaker. He eventually moved into his parents cottage. Mark died there on September 5, 2015.

Mark was a good person who unfortunately made some bad choices and had some bad luck in life. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Mark is survived by his mother, Phyllis; brother, Tim DeBard; nephews, Wyatt R. DeBard Slater & Royce (Eleanor) Slater II; uncle, John (Donna) DeBard; aunt, Margaret (Bob) Hulka; friend, Matt Chittenden and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his father; sister & brother-in-law, Kay (Royce) Slater; Grandma Sauders; Grandma & Grandpa DeBard; uncles, Tom DeBard & Paul Hulka; aunt, Shirley Dornbos.

A Graveside service will be held Saturday, September 12, 2015, 2:00 pm at Pine Hill/Fruitport Cemetery with visitation directly following at the DeBard home.

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