Mark Eddy

Mark William Eddy passed away peacefully Sept. 2, 2021, after a battle with leukemia. He was surrounded by friends and family who, despite their sadness at losing a son, brother and friend, were able to tell funny stories and memories about Mark.
Mark was born July 28, 1956, to William George Eddy and Kaye Frances Eddy (Smart) in Highland Park, Michigan. The family later moved to Folsom, California, then Phoenix, Arizona. While in school, Mark studied and competed in karate, becoming the youngest blue belt in Arizona. The family attended many tournaments, and Mark won many trophies. Also during school, he was a paper boy, a Boy Scout, a dishwasher, a bus boy, and a construction laborer. With the money earned at those jobs, he bought his first dirt bikes. By high school, he was racing motocross in South Phoenix, winning several trophies.
Shortly after graduation from Saguaro High School in 1977, Mark earned his black belt, becoming the youngest first degree black belt in Kenpo Karate in Arizona. He taught karate for several years while he worked landscaping or construction. He was fortunate to team up with a business mentor who instilled landscaping values and ethics that Mark drew upon throughout his life. He continued in the landscaping field, working for the city of Tempe, then began his own business. During that period, he became a Certified Scuba Diver and he started rock climbing.
Love of music also became a dominant trait of Mark. He picked up a couple of guitars, an amp, and he taught himself to play music. His favorite styles were Blues, Rock, and Folk. Whenever he came home for visits, he brought his guitar with the latest music he was learning. He had a smooth, deep, mellow voice. Mark supported local musicians by attending their performances whenever possible. In Phoenix, his favorites were Hans Olson, Gary Brazzi and Chuck Hall.
In the mid-1980s, Mark rode his Harley up to Durango, Colorado, to visit a couple of buddies who had moved there. He fell in love with the mountains, aspens and streams of Colorado. He formed a special bond to the Needles area of Purgatory Mountain. By 1989, Mark was living and working on the Mountain, becoming one of the pioneers of the North County Community. He was able to do all the outdoor activities he loved in cool temperatures, so he added ice climbing, mountain climbing and skiing to his skills.
In Durango, he drove a bus; he worked for the Forestry Service, working his way up to helicopter attack group supervisor; he planned and built the Potato Mountain trail; he was a snowmaker and snow cat driver at Purgatory Mountain Ski Resort, earning a lifetime ski pass; he invented a unique snow gun which is on display at the Powder House; he was a Wyoming and Montana Hot Shot wildlands firefighter; he was an EMT; he was a construction foreman for Yenter Companies and Franklin Drilling and Blasting; he shoveled snow off roofs; he maintained the grounds of several condominium communities in Needles. His hard work went to fulfill his goal of buying land and building a house that would be the basis for funding his retirement. He accomplished this goal. His house, which he designed and planned himself, was finished in 2010. He retired in 2020.
Mark was unfortunate enough to sustain several serious injuries throughout his life. His last injury occurred in 2014, when he fell 40 feet from his roof. He broke a couple vertebrae and had a concussion, but he crawled up two flights of stairs to his phone and called the ambulance. He credited his martial arts skills with being able to land the fall in such a way that he didn’t die or become paralyzed. He recovered his strength and soon was riding dirt bikes again. He was in a lot of pain, however, and could not sleep well.
In April, he looked a little sick. In May, he caught COVID and leukemia was discovered. He was very sick, but he fought his way back to health again. June, July, and August he spent riding, partying, and hanging out with friends and singing and playing music. He celebrated his 65th birthday July 28 with friends. He connected with several buddies over the last weeks who said Mark was very happy and very obviously enjoying life and the moment. If his last health problem had been an injury, Mark would have fought back and kept on riding. But cancer kicked his butt.
Mark said once, “Yeah, sixty-five years is about all we get, guys like me.”
“Why?” I asked. “Injuries?”
“No…blood cancers, usually,” he said, “from exposure to the fire-fighting chemicals.”
Mark is survived by his mother Kaye; his sisters, Renee and Michele; and his nephews, Logan and Nathan. He is preceded in death by his father William; and his niece Athena.
During his 30 years in the Durango area, Mark ascended to the summit of many peaks. He accomplished several solo backcountry trips, climbs and rides. He skied a lot of powder. He rode a lot of trails. He helped a lot of people. He made a lot of friends. He will be missed.
The Eddy Family wishes to express its gratitude to Monica McManus for her unfaltering help with Mark’s affairs. The Mark Eddy Celebration of Life will be held October 23, 2021. For more information, please go to the North County Facebook Group Page.
Condolence cards may be sent to:
The Eddy Family
1309 E 3rd Avenue #105
Durango, CO 81301