As I sit to write this non-obituary but rather the story of our beloved Mark Garvey, it’s difficult to wrap the life, the legacy, the love of a man in a few short paragraphs.

Mark passed at precisely 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 29th, at his cottage in sweet home Alabama. It’s where he wanted to be, surrounded by his loved ones, going out on his terms.

Mark originated from Wisconsin, and he was a bit of a wild child. All of his stories of his youth were told of a boy named “Mark Thomas” as if it was a different person. One of our favorite stories was of him riding his bicycle from his home across the City of Milwaukee to the home of a man he longed to meet. When he pulled up in the driveway, he found the couple cleaning out their garage. He approached them and asked if he could help and they welcomed it. Shortly thereafter, the couple invited him into their home where the man showed him his bar built out of baseball bats. They extended an offer for Mark to stay for supper; however, he’d have to call home to ask permission. When his dad answered the phone, Mark said: “Dad, Hank Aaron wants to know if I can stay for dinner!” This is a glimpse of the Mark Thomas, that his seven siblings and parents adored and had to keep a close eye on at all times. A small side story to this one: Well into Mark’s adulthood, his brother, Colin, admitted to playing ball with his signed Hank Aaron baseball which went missing shortly after he received it at that dinner. He then returned the damaged baseball to Mark after all those years.

Mark had a son, Evan, with his first wife, Beverly. Evan hails from a long line of highly intelligent men that runs through the Garvey lineage. Evan fell right in line with his intelligence, fine work ethic, his father’s good looks and whit. During his time married to Bev and raising young Evan, Mark started his own company in Orlando, Florida, specializing in tradeshows. During the growing of the company, Mark touched the lives of many. As owner, he had the opportunity to mentor many, create lifelong friendships, to teach and to inspire. Mark worked hard, surrounded himself with people that aided him in the success of his business. Those people are many and would testify to his kindness, generosity, integrity, intelligence and sincere appreciation for their dedication in helping him grow his amazing business.

It was at a tradeshow; Mark met a girl from Chicago. It was at this chance encounter that would change the life of that small-town girl named Debbie forever. Debbie moved to Orlando to be closer to Mark, but she refused to move in with him until “he put a ring on it.” These two lite up a room and were crazy about each other. Debbie and Mark celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary this year and had a marriage that everyone dreams of. (Let’s face it, Garv was perfect in every way.) They are the proud parents of one daughter, Grace. Although Mark was unable to attend her graduation from SCAD last Friday, we know he was there with her, beaming with pride as her name was announced: “Grace Garvey, Magna Cum Laude” – yet another smart Garvey! Grace was able to be with her dad for a few days before he passed, celebrating her graduation in an intimate little party with family, holding his hand, loving him in his final days.

Mark was best known by those that loved him as “Garv.” On a recent visit from his caregiver, he whispered to her: “you can call me, Garv” – she knew then that he loved her. On Mark’s last trip to the cabin, a dear friend was invited over to say his goodbyes and when I told Garv that his friend was coming, he replied: “Brett, I will receive him graciously.” The man spoke as eloquently as he dressed. Upon his passing, Evan ran and got the ironing board to iron Mark’s pants and shirt. When the hospice nurse and caregiver said: “Should we tuck in his shirt?” Evan replied: “Mark Garvey would never leave the house without his shirt being tucked in”. On a guy’s fishing trip to Costa Rica, his brother-in-law, John, called him and asked what he was doing, and his reply was: “ironing my clothes for the trip.” Only Garv would iron for a fishing trip.

Garv was extremely active throughout his life and only ate to survive and would never put anything unhealthy in his mouth. Exceptions: Ice cream, Heineken and Maker’s Mark & Coke. If you asked him if he was hungry, he’d say: “I’m good, I had a banana today.” He was overly conscious of his health, refusing the bacon, only dry toast and egg whites. In the end, Mark ate bacon, he ate a big mac, he buttered his toast, and put dressing on his salad!

It was just a few years ago that Mark was riding his bicycle 90 miles a week and getting in 10,000 steps a day. It was during this time, that Debbie and Mark started to notice that something might be wrong. Mark started to fall while biking, fall when walking, along with some other unusual symptoms. After several doctor appointments and misdiagnoses, a neurologist in Alabama finally had a confirmed diagnosis of an extremely rare disease. Mark certainly is special because only 1 in 100,000 ever get Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Over the next 15 months, this disease would rob Garv of everything he enjoyed – biking, running, walking, fishing, driving a tractor, splitting wood, dancing with his wife, eating, and finally talking. He faced this journey courageously and with dignity. With each passing day, we saw changes that took just a little more of him. It was only on two occasions that Mark expressed frustration with this debilitating disease: “I did everything right” and “I didn’t see me going out like this.” He never complained through it all.

Over the past year, Garv welcomed many families and friends in for a visit from near and far. He said many goodbyes that were heart-wrenching. One goodbye was of his beautiful “cabin” that he built in Alabama. He created the most beautiful place for his family to enjoy. We have 22 years of memories of four-wheeling, fishing, hunting, softball games, silly family games, holidays and simply sitting by the fire. Anyone that has been privileged enough to be invited would describe it as a beautiful retreat that offers us all peace and tranquility.

Garv never wanted to give up! Just two weeks ago, we got him loaded up into the golf cart and brought him to downtown Fairhope to watch his favorite local band play, The Delta Drifters. He continued to welcome his family in to help Debbie with his caregiving. It didn’t matter if he just saw you yesterday, he’d have that big smile on his face when we’d walk through the door. We all felt honored to help him in what we called the “two step” when he would hold onto our arms to walk him safely to his destination and you’d be looking into those beautiful baby blue eyes of his. Again, love shining back from his face with so much appreciation and humbleness.

Debbie was his support system 24/7. She’d get breaks by having the most wonderful caregivers and hospice nurse imaginable. Facing exhaustion, she was there for her beloved Garv every step of the way. It wasn’t always easy. In his stubbornness, he would continue to try to get up and walk on his own, ending up in the Emergency Room. He didn’t want to be a burden and was desperate to do things on his own. He wasn’t going down without a fight.

As far as his role as Uncle to his many nieces and nephews: the lessons, guidance, love that they received from their Uncle Mark is part of his legacy. The man literally left his thumbprint on them all.

In those final weeks, Debbie asked Garv: “Who are you most excited to see when you get to Heaven? Your mom? (who passed when he was 12). Your dad?” He said: “Jesus – I want to run into the arms of Jesus and thank him for this amazing life. I will then look and see my mothers open arms next to my father.”

Our prayer all along was that Mark would have a peaceful passing, and the Lord gave Mark exactly that. Debbie & Mark were surrounded by our amazing family that were holding onto them, praying, loving them just as Garv would have done for all of us. He’s restored – He’s whole – He’s riding a bike – He’s running – He is missed but we rejoice in his freedom from his broken human body.

If you were privileged enough to call this man: Husband, Father, Brother, In-Law, Uncle, Friend, Mentor, then you know what an honor it was to be loved by Mark Thomas Garvey

Until we meet again our beloved GARV, we’ll eat the bananas in your honor!