Mark David Watkins

Lifelong Alaskan Mark David Watkins, 63, died at 11:30 a.m., Sept. 26, 2011.

Mark was born July 18, 1948, in Anchorage, the fourth child of Hal and Betty Watkins.

Preceding him in death were his two older brothers, Frederick Dean “Fritz” and Paul Douglas. He is survived by his wife Pat, his children, Christopher and Rosanna, his grandchildren Freedom, Forrest, Flower, and Tristan, his older sister, Judith Elizabeth “Judy,” and two younger brothers, William James “Bill” and Harold Nathan.

Mark grew up in Alaska then moved, in his early teens, to Spokane, Wash., with his family. After high school he joined the Navy serving his country on one of the earliest nuclear subs, the USS Tecumseh. Following four years in the Navy he married Pat and set up house in San Jose, Calif. where Mark went to college and the two children were born. They returned to Alaska in1975 and eventually settled in Palmer at the base of Lazy Mountain.

Mark was an inspiration to all, holding a deep and abiding love for Jesus Christ that touched every life that came in contact with him. Even after suffering a debilitating stroke in 1992 that left him partially paralyzed, his faith, hope and love for our Lord Jesus and others, never wavered.

“Mark will be missed by all who knew him,” his family said. “But at the same time we can rejoice that he is now with his Savior and all those who’ve gone before, joining that great cloud of witnesses encouraging us on.”

A potluck memorial gathering is at 3 p.m., Oct. 2 at the Palmer Christian Church (1/2 mile down Scott Road off the Glenn). Please come and join us as we sing, fellowship, and celebrate the life of Mark David Watkins.