Mark Gerard Carroll

He was born in 1962 in Kansas City, MO to Martha (Mullin) & Daniel Carroll. Mark lived an adventurous life. He graduated from Roxbury High School in Succasunna, New Jersey and followed his culinary dreams to the Culinary Institute of America in upstate NY. After a brief stint in Vegas, living it up, Mark returned home to be by his family and continue his cooking career.

Mark was an amazing chef. He loved cooking and you could taste the love and passion in his creations. No matter who was cooking at home, he could always be spotted sneaking into the kitchen to add something extra into the pot and pretending he did nothing. He loved to talk about recipes and explain how to make things better. He had a ton of patience, in the kitchen.

He was also an avid golfer. He played all the time in Myrtle Beach, SC, where the family settled in 1994. Mark played every opportunity he had with his father and friends, hell, anyone that would let him join. It was his goal to get back on the golf course. That little white ball was his motivator.

Mark was actively involved in AA. He was very proud of his 32+ years of sobriety. He loved helping people (very much like his mother) and found a second home in AA. He respected and cherished all the friends he made there. Thank you for supporting and loving our brother as much as we do.

Mark was a proud big brother. He is survived by his sisters Kathleen Carroll of Monroe, NC, Elizabeth Kraus of Smyrna, GA, Debbie Daston of Washingtonville, NY and Catie Atkins of Lebanon, NJ, “honorary” lil sister Becky McBride (niece) of Monroe and countless beloved nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Martha & Dan Carroll of Myrtle Beach, SC and his nephew Danny Sivertsen.

After leaving Myrtle Beach, Mark moved to Marco Island, FL. He loved watching the manatees munching on his grass on the waterway in his back yard. And that is where we shall put him to rest. He will be cremated and turned into an eternal reef memorial so he can watch the manatees forever.

The family will be receiving friends on Monday, February 24th from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at McEwen Funeral Home of Monroe, located at 204 South Main Street, Monroe, NC 28112.

In lieu of flowers, the family has set up a GoFundMe page to help offset Mark’s eternal reef and service expenses. https://gofund.me/c1831980