Mark Allen Woodcock

Mark Allen Woodcock age 57, passed away suddenly Tuesday Morning, May 8th, 2018 due to a stroke. He was born on November 21, 1960 in Alabama to Ms. Jackie Thompson and the late Mr. Ronald Woodcock. Mark did many great things in his life, but his life was never complete until he met his second wife Laura Woodcock. Together they set sail upon a journey that would lead them through life.
Mark was a teacher of things. All sorts of things. I have never met a man before who could teach you to ballroom dance and change your oil. How to build a house or dive deep in the ocean. How to hold on and let go. Mark was the glue that held a large extended family together to survive life on a farm together. He fed the masses, or at least whoever showed up to eat when food was ready, he drove his shinny orange avalanche all over the city dropping off his wife to work, his sons to appointments, and still trying to have time to teach some martial arts to anyone who would listen. He could teach you about ancient Japanese culture and then launch into a speech about how the Viking shaped their boats. This Man never stopped teaching no matter what new storms developed in his life.
More than anything Mark Woodcock was happy to have spent as much time with his sons as he could. Nothing made him prouder as a dad then knowing that all three of his sons not only have found partners in life, much like he had found the love of his life Laura but had all chosen to remain near to the family to care for each other as a larger family unit. Mark had so much knowledge that no one person could have ever learned it all from him. With Dallas Hawk Woodcock, his eldest son he shared so many of his teachings. The two worked together almost every day as he tried to teach him what it meant to lead a family. The art of woodcraft, from building a house to artful carvings. They worked together to keep the lawns mowed and the car running for oh so many cars. With Denver Falcon Woodcock, he shared martial arts. Denver rejected becoming a black belt since he always felt he would have more to learn from his dad. Mark gave his love of pranks and the classic Hollywood monsters not just on Halloween, his favorite holiday, but every day. Together they learned to build Skin-on Frame Kayaks to join the wood set that he had built earlier with Dallas. With Dakota Raven Woodcock, he shared his heart. He taught him what it means to love life so dearly you don’t have to have a plan. Make a family and Live for your family. Together they played many games both on the computer and in the great outdoors. Mark bought Dakota his first bow, and they’d made plans to make Mongolian Horse bows together. Dakota Woodcock and Tamara Woodcock brought so much joy into the farm when they had Ryder Phoenix Woodcock, Mark’s first grandson. Mark just loved having the youngster around and wanted so much to become the wise old grandfather to his grandson on the way, who Denver and Eve Woodcock have decided to name Mark after his grandfather.
Mark Woodcock lived for his beloved wife Laura Woodcock. Together the two of them took life head on. Each taking a portion of a whole and turning it into a wonderful family that had a soul, not just blood. While Laura was the air to breathe, Mark was the solid earth we all stood on. Mark always put Laura first and foremost in his life and wanted nothing more then to wait on her hand and foot. Laura was his job, and he would have no other.
He was the family so many of us need while we are on this journey. He wanted a daughter so much, that he was tickled pink to have 3 daughter-in laws (Elisabeth, Eve, and Tamara) come into his life and spice it up. He savored the arts and ideas we each brought into his house. He even sometimes listened to his father-in law’s ideas for the farm, though he always made sure that you heard his voice last. This strong man was always looking after his brother’s Randy and Keith Woodcock and checking on his mom Ms. Jackie Thompson. He missed terribly his Late father Ronald Woodcock who he felt he never had enough time with and his beloved late sister Teresa Renee Woodcock. He was always looking for new family lines to connect with and expand the family tree. He gave every day to the people in his life all the way to the end, completing his wish to be an organ donor. His close loved ones morn his loss and remember his memories. Our family askes you to remember. “Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower” Hans Christian Andersen
Written By his Daughter-in law : Elisabeth Woodcock

 
Mark and I tried everyday to live our lives together as this poem reflects:
A family Is….
A circle of strength and love.
With every birth and every union, the circle grows.
Every crisis together makes the circle stronger.
Every joy shared adds more love.
A family is a circle,
A wondrous chain joined by hearts filled with love.

To my husband that always had my love and shared in creating and raising of the most amazing family. I will love you forever and always. You did such an amazing job, my love, of teaching our baby boys to become loving strong men, just as you were. I see in each of them so much of you and I think to myself, you did it! You left that legacy to the world that you wanted so much. You gave the world three of the most loving and supporting men a wife could ever ask for. My heart is broken and I’m lost in grief right now but I will come through this as you showed me with everything you did. I will do this with the love of family and the strength you helped me to build within myself. You always said I was so strong and you always believed I could do anything. The thing was, I could only do the things you marveled at me for because of you. You were the strength of my abilities and now I will have to go through life without you but I promise to keep myself going with your love and strength you gave me. You will be forever a part of my heart, my love for family, the strength to take charge or to step back to follow if that was what life needed. I learned it all from you. You truly where my amazing life coach. I will see and hold you again one day and until that day I will always do my best to make you proud.
My love is yours forever,
Your Lo Lo