A private family memorial was held at Lettuce Park in Tampa.

Mark was born in Baytown, Texas, and moved to Anchorage with his family in March of 1971 from Seabrook, Texas. He was a 1977 graduate of Service High School.

He was a commercial fisherman most of his life, working out of Homer on the F/V Big Valley for many years. He had most recently been fishing crab in the Bering Sea as deck boss on the F/V Determined out of Kodiak.

Mark was adventurous, enjoying the outdoors from a very early age. Fishing was one of his favorite activities, along with riding his motorcycles and jet skiing. Ice hockey, skiing and rollerblading also were some regular hobbies.

He took pleasure in tuning and repairing motorcycles, as he was mechanically inclined. Mark also enjoyed cooking and camping outdoors.

His empathy and compassion for others, plus a unique sense of humor, were a few of his key qualities. He had a lifelong love for animals, with numerous pets including his cat Mr. Bones.

His family said, "To all that were fortunate enough to know him, he constantly reminded us to live for today; his usual bright smile and loving and cheerful nature will be sorely missed, but we are comforted to know that he is now in the arms of our Lord and Savior."

Mark is survived by his wife, June DeVisfruto Stone, of Savannah, Ga.; mother Donna Cutshall and her husband Max of Watertown, S.D.; father Dick Stone and his wife Ronnie of Boone, N.C.; sister Lynn Johnson and her husband Greg of Eatonville, Wash.; nephew Scott Johnson and his wife Amy of Beaverton, Ore.; nephew Aaron Johnson and his wife Heather of Puyallup, Wash.; his uncle Jerry Haase and his wife Nancy of Watertown, S.D.; three great aunts and many cousins and friends nationwide, especially in Georgia, Alaska, Texas, Utah, Hawaii and Washington state.

Mark was preceded in death by his grandparents and his older brother, Dicky Stone of Arizona.

Memorials in his name can be sent to your fisherman's association or Gideon's International.