A visitation for Mark will be held Monday, February 20, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Joshua Mortuary Palmdale, 3150 E Palmdale Blvd., Palmdale, CA 93550.
A mass will occur Tuesday, February 21, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Saint Mary's Catholic Church, 1600 East Ave-4, Palmdale, CA 93550.
A military Salute presentation will take place February 21, 2023 at 2:00 pm at the American Legion Post 311. 44355 40th Street East, Lancaster, Ca, 93535.
Mark Henry Shanks was known as many things to many people. He was a father, Grandfather (Pop Pop), Husband, Brother, a friend, and someone special. To family and friends who knew him best, Mark will be remembered as a very Strong Proud, Humble, Modest, exceptional person who never tolerated nonsense.
Mark was born on July 31, 1960 at Brockton Hospital in Brockton, Massachusetts. He was the son of the Late Henry Donald Shanks and Constance Melissa-Helayna Shanks.
Mark was raised in Brockton Massachusetts with his 5 brothers and sisters. He had one older brother, Michael, and 4 Sisters, Michelle, Melonie, Lisa and Rose. Mark was involved in all sorts of activities with his siblings. He and his siblings experienced rivalries typical of a growing family, but they shared many life experiences over the years. Mark spent a lot of time with his Aunt Bernice and Uncle Sonny. They played a major role in raising him which in turn made him extremely close to his cousins Scott, Raymond, Donna, Diane, and Darren. They were more than cousins, they were and still are additional brothers and sisters.
Mark had a number of interests. He has always been wise beyond his years. A natural born go-getter who always would find a way out of no way. Exploring all kinds of business ventures, he found a way to make money in any capacity. He was curious about the world around him and was often eager to explore it, never willingly allowing anything or anyone to stop him. One of many examples of not letting anything stop him is, despite the objections of some, When he was young, Mark rode his bike all the way to Cape Cod from Brockton to witness the birth of his baby sister Rose. (That was the quick version.)
Mark was an active child who grew up loving sports. He played baseball, Football and Basketball throughout his life. Mark and his siblings participated in a program called P. O. W. W. O. W. Which is a Native Indian organization that teaches Native American descendants cultural history and historical Tribal dances. In his spare time he liked to work on cars, learning the pool game with his father and Uncle Sonny as well as growing plants. He has always had a green thumb. He painted his closet in his room black to grow plants inside the house because it was too cold in the winter time. Mark was an extremely overprotective big brother. He was known to his family and close friends as "MAN". A name given to him by his mother and father. Which was fitting, because he was in fact THE MAN. He didn't care for pets as an adult, however he and his siblings had 5 dogs growing up. 3 German Shepards named Gretchen, Boots 1 and Boots 2, a Husky named Butterball, and a Labrador named California.
A typical teenager, Mark had a fairly happy high school experience, making that critical transition from adolescence to adulthood. He went to St. Colemans for his adolescent years, (which he disliked but tolerated) and he graduated from Brockton Highschool in 1978. In Highschool is where Mark met his first wife and the mother of his 3 children. Well after Highschool, The news of becoming a father sparked his military interests and a change in direction of his life. He stood Tall and handled his responsibilities.
Always considered a “good” friend to those he knew, Mark had a broad group of acquaintances and developed many impressionable relationships. He definitely left an imprint on everyone he met. He had a few close friends and another select few, close enough to when you seen one, you seen the other. A few were from the military, Albert "C" and Vanessa Hollings, Robin and Jerry Fenn, and Rosalind and George James, mentioned because they were pivotal in supporting Mark, Shantay and Terrie with the passing of his beloved daughter and their baby sister Whitney. Once moving to California, he remained close to his brother Ray, baby Sister Rose, the late Becky Weisenritter and Anthony "Tony" and Erika Travis.
Mark was blessed with three daughters, Shantay, Terrie, and the forever 6yrs young Whitney who he raised as a single father while in the military. Mark worked hard to be a great, protective father to his children and he did his best to fulfill their needs.(He even developed code words for some of those needs.) Learning how to do their hair was a struggle until he learned from watching Terrie play with her barbies and baby dolls. He mastered one style and did that style on all 3 girls until Terrie started doing her own, and it was bye bye to the 3 pony tail do-do rings that he jokingly called them. He often timed joked that he "Ran out of money before running out of the month.." as he put it. He went to local pool halls to gamble on pool games he played to make ends meet. Things were tough but he never let those things deter him from being the best father he could be. He was truly an Amazing Father! He was also a referee, Shantay always used to tease Terrie by calling her a Wampanoag before she knew what it meant, and Terrie got Shantay back by teasing that Terrie was the only one who Mark witnessed being born. Mark eventually explained both stories, (which was innocent because one was the name of their ancestral Indian tribe and the other was because of deployment but try explaining that to two pre-teen rivaling sisters), That didn't stop the laughter though. The unfortunate passing of his 6 year old daughter put a hole in Marks heart and a void that was never replaced. Now, they are together again.
Another blessing for Mark was the gift of 7 Grandchildren. Tyeri, Jai'von, Whitney, Jasilynn, Jermil jr, Jamauri, and Ajahnie. He was very active in their lives spoiling them rotten and then sending them home. He picked them up from school, took them for weekends, sometimes full weeks, took them out to movies, shopping, fishing, showing up with ginger bread houses, happy meals, anything that would drive Terrie crazy and was messy, the list is plentiful, and the memories are endless. He was as impactful as a Pop Pop as he was as a father!
Just when Mark gave up on love, and always swore a "1 and done" when it came to marriage. He met Alexis and once they became a couple, that 1 and done saying was getting rethought. On December 9, 2017 after 2 years of dating, Mark exchanged wedding vows with Alexandria at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church of Downey, California. For the last 5 years of his life they were truly inseparable. Those close to them lovingly described their PDA as annoyingly cute, and contagious. They were like teenagers who were experiencing love for the first time.They even held hands while they slept. They both were truly happy and in love.
Mark was a Navy veteran. Mark saw action for several different years in Iraq, and Kuwait. His fellow soldiers viewed him as a brother in arms and knew that he was as much a part of their family as their loved ones back home. Mark enjoyed and took great pride in what he did for a living. Showing a strong work ethic, Mark worked diligently and did his best to succeed in his career. Plus, He loved making money. While in the Navy aboard the ships, traveling all over the world and different stationary cities, he worked in different capacities including as an Aeronautical engineer working on fighter Jet aircraft, a underwater welding specialist, and was on the Search and Rescue Team. When he retired from the military he was employed for Raytheon, Marconi Aeronautics, General Atomics, and NASA as a Avionics Special Test Technician. In recent times He played a major role in building and testing aircraft such as the Global Hawk, Predator, and Sophia. Mark always sought to be a team player, and a Boss, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done. He loved aircrafts and pursed his pilots license, that was almost completed but had to stop due to his back injury. He started going to college with his daughter Terrie to continue his aeronautical degree while working on getting his back healed to continue his journey as a pilot. He enjoyed taking Classes with his daughter, and the time they spent together studying. He couldn't figure out how she had the capacity to take 4 classes at a time when he was overwhelmed with the amount of work from just one. (Fun fact, Both of them passed with an A)
Mark loved watching sports on every television around his house and at the bar, watching westerns, building gas powered remote control cars, playing pool with his friends and son in law, hanging out and talking with his daughter Terrie, going on excursions and mini vacations with his wife Alexis, often times going on long drives just to go to eat lunch or dinner at a different restaurant because they went through all of the ones closer to them, growing vegetables in his garden, making and selling jerky and playing his lottery numbers. He loved cooking. He was the BBQ king! He had the cheesiest Mac n cheese, and would cook a steak that was so juicy it could be cut with a fork. If some of his food, didn't have enough salt, cheese, butter, or bacon, to him it wasn't right. He taught Terrie how to cook and passed some of the recipes his mother taught him, to her.
He was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others. He had a particular temperament, but if you truly knew him, you knew how to interact and could tell what kind of mood he was in by the look on his face or a particular response. To most, you would think something was wrong, but those who truly knew him, knew how to tell the difference.
Mark found pleasure in sports. In high school, Mark played Football, basketball, and baseball. In his college years, Mark continued to stay active by playing football until he fractured his collarbone and had to stop. Recreational sports included the navy baseball teams, and several pool league teams. Mark was also a dedicated sports fan and enjoyed watching and attending his favorite events whenever he had the chance to do so. He unapologetically divided any room he walked into with his love of the Patriots and Red Sox wearing his favorite gear. A dedicated Patriots fan and Boston Red Sox Fan.
Mark was a man who took pride in upholding his beliefs, morals, and ethics. So it is little wonder that he took an active role in his community, serving 3 separate rolls on the committee for the Post 311 American Legion as Commander of the Sons and and later as the Treasurer.
Mark enjoyed traveling and time away on vacations once he finally found love and a person to enjoy the rest of his life with. It was a chance for him to renew and relax, to visit new places and experience new things. And even going back to the same places and doing things that he didn't get to do the last time he was there. He traveled to so many many countries there is not enough space to name. And he has a memorable story for each one. Owning his own home brought him a whole different level of happiness including setting up his legacy to pass down.
Mark transitioned with his loved ones by his side in the comfort of his home in Lancaster California. He is survived by his wife Alexandria, daughters Shantay, Terrie, and forever young Whitney Shanks. 7 grandchildren, Tyeri, Jai'von, Whitney, Jasilynn, Jermil jr, Jamauri, and Ajahnie. As well as a host of family and friends. A military tribute will be held at the American Legion Post 311.
Mark was a strong powerhouse. A one of a kind, unique individual who will for all time be remembered by his family and friends as someone who was a vital part of their lives. Mark leaves behind him a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life he touched will always remember Mark Henry Shanks.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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