Obituary for Mark Alan Simon

January 06, 1961 - October 17, 2017 (age 56)

Mark Alan Simon, 56 years old, died peacefully on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at Portland Assisted Living and Memory Care Center with Sparrow Hospice Care after battling melanoma of the brain for a year. Mark was born January 6, 1961 in Lansing, Michigan to William and Mary Ann Simon. He grew up in a loving, close-knit family with one sister and three brothers in Portland, Michigan. Mark was an all-American boy growing up; excelling academically and playing football, basketball, and baseball. He graduated high school in 1979 from Portland St. Patrick School. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was set up on a blind date with the love of his life, Christine Avery. Mark and Chris married at Portland St. Patrick Church on October 25, 1986. In 1983, Mark earned his associates degree in business administration and marketing from Lansing Community College. He worked toward a bachelor’s degree at Northwood University and Ferris State University before deciding to work full time on the assembly line at General Motors. While laid off at GM for 7 years, Mark worked as a manager at Meijer’s. During this time, Mark and Chris bought a forever home in Portland and celebrated the birth of their 3 children. Mark enjoyed supporting his children at sporting events, gardening with his wife, celebrating holidays with family, playing DJ at work and family get-togethers, listening to classic rock, commentating movies, traveling out west, camping, visiting lighthouses, taking pictures and videos, and playing with his beloved dogs. Mark was a friend to everyone he met. He was easy to talk to and his smile and laugh were contagious. He put others needs and wants above his own. Mark was hard working. He worked over 30 years on the assembly line at General Motors so that he could provide his family the best chance of living comfortably. Mark was brave, strong, and stoic. Even after losing his vision and his ability to walk, Mark never complained. He tried to protect others from the burden of his suffering, even when the burden became too much to bear. In his passing, he no longer needs to bear such affliction. Mark is survived by his wife, Christine Ann-Avery Simon; children, Heather (George) Cassel, Nicole (Justin) Schafer, and Cameron Simon; father, William (Sandra Olson) Simon; father & mother-in-law, Lyle & Erika Avery; siblings, Marlene (Mike Keusch) McAllister, Michael (Christina) Simon, Bryan (Leona) Simon, and Pat (Sally) Simon; sister and brother-in-law, Catharine and Mark Haworth; nephews, Scott (Jennifer) Pugh, Michael Pugh, David (Andrea) McAllister, Jeff (Emily), Erik Simon, Christopher Simon, Stephen Simon, Michael Simon, Jordan Simon, Michael Haworth and Matthew Haworth; nieces, Dawn (Daniel) Pugh, Audra (Daniel) Keefer, Ashley (Jim) Fenlon, and Marianna Simon; aunt, Rosemary Simon; Uncle, Oswald and aunt Monika Galinaitis.; and beloved pets Teddy and Zoey. Mark is predeceased by his mother, Mary Ann Simon; maternal grandparents, Michael and Elizabeth Smith; paternal grandparents, Arthur and Martha (Fox) Simon; Robert and Dorothy Goodman; Elgin and Mabel Smith, Carl and Susan Smith, Floyd and Helen Smith, Richard and Mary Lou Smith, Richard Simon, Thomas and Bernie Simon, John and MaryAnn Simon. Thank you to family and friends for helping make Mark’s home safe for him after his surgery, watching Mark so that Chris could work, sending cards, food, gift certificates and monetary donations, visiting Mark, and for all of the well wishes and prayers. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Larry King at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 23, 2017 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Portland. Rite of Committal will follow at Portland Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the Lehman Funeral Home, 210 E. Bridge St., Portland. The rosary will be prayed on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral chapel. A luncheon will follow the funeral service at the Portland Knights of Columbus Hall. For those wishing, contributions may be made to the Fr. Flohe Foundation or for the family’s wishes in honor of Mark. Arrangements are entrusted to Lehman Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be made at www.lehmanfuneralhomes.com.