Mark Leland Ethington, age 63, of Dixon, was born August 16, 1958, at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, a son of Robert Prewitt and Ruby Louise (Reeves) Ethington, and passed from this life Friday, September 17, 2021, at his home near Dixon.

He was united in marriage January 19, 1978, at Waynesville, to the former Miss Cathy Marie Forrest, who was the love of his life, and to this union, two daughters were born.

Mark was a 1976 graduate of Dixon R-1 High School and was raised about 8 miles south of Dixon on what was called Walnut Valley Ranch Road just above the Gasconade River.  He loved the country, being outside, hunting, fishing, and especially the Gasconade River, including all its surroundings of caves and woods.  His passions were music, dancing, hot rods, motorcycles, and living life on the edge.  Mark was a person of many skills and talents, from working on Harleys and cars, building cabinets, furniture, fence, gardening, and reupholstering vehicles.  He considered all of these more as hobbies than work.

Mark's musical soul began as a young child singing in church with his brother, Bob, with their dad playing the guitar for them.  As a boy, he would sneak around and play his dad's Gibson and became a self-taught guitarist.  Most any time when you saw Mark, he had his guitar with him to sing a tune to anyone that would listen.  He enjoyed jamming with friends and family, whether it was easy listening, rock, country, bluegrass, or gospel.

Mark attended First Christian Church, Waynesville, as well as other churches in the Dixon area throughout his life.  He accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized at First Baptist Church, Dixon.

Mark was a loving, caring, and had a wild sense of humor that would fill a room with life and laughter.  He loved people and helping others in any way he could and loved his family more than life itself.

Those left to celebrate the life of Mark include:  His former wife, Cathy Ethington, of Dixon; his two daughters, Jessica (Derek) Kingsbury of Puyallup, Washington, and Alicia Ethington of Dixon; his two granddaughters, Kinlee and Kierstyn Kingsbury, of Puyallup, Washington; grandpup, Sosa; his father, Robert Ethington, of Troy; his brother, Robert (Rhonda) Ethington, Jr., of Winchester, Virginia; his two sisters, Kimball Vaughan of Troy, and Starla Jacobs of Marshall; his former mother-in-law, Louise Forrest, of Dixon; nephews; nieces; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruby Ethington; one brother-in-law, Terry Jacobs; one nephew, Shawn Gerber; his former father-in-law, Ken Forrest; and one former sister-in-law, Debbie Ferguson.

Visitation for Mr. Mark Ethington will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., Friday, September 24, 2021, in First Assembly of God Church, 810 West 4 ^th Street, Dixon, MO 65459, with his celebration of life service following at 5:00 p.m. in the church with Bro. Michael Shaughnessy officiating under the direction of Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, Dixon.

Inurnment will be in Clifty Cemetery, near Dixon, with Tayler Jacobs, Tyler Jacobs, John Ferguson, RJ Scott, Derek Kingsbury, Sean Skaggs, and Gary Carter serving as honorary pallbearers for Mark.

Immediately following the cemetery inurnment  ceremony, the Ethington family extends an invitation to all in attendance to a celebration of life gathering in the fellowship hall located on the lower level of First Assembly of God Church, 810 West 4 ^th Street, Dixon, MO 65459.

Memorial contributions in memory of Mark are suggested by his family to help with expenses or to The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Treatment and Prevention Services, EIN: 52-1736502, New York, NY, with envelopes available at the church or in care of Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box EE, Dixon, MO 65459.

Online condolences may be shared with the family of Mr. Mark Ethington at www.birminghammartinfuneralhomes.com