Mark Orin Myracle

Mark Orin Myracle, 55, lost his battle with cancer on Oct. 12 at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford.

He graduated from Somers High School in 1972, and worked the East Texas Oil fields for two years laying gas lines through the region before moving back to Connecticut. He got into the restaurant business and was head chef at restaurants in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. He later followed his passion, working with wood. He worked as a carpenter doing all phases of building. He worked in his own business, Symetria Paddles, making custom inlaid-wood paddles for kayaking and canoeing, as well as numerous other handcrafted products. Mark was a great lover of the outdoors, and was an avid skier. His passion was to ride down a swiftly running river, boulders, waterfalls, and all in his brightly colored kayak during all seasons. He was a member of the Farmington River Club, where he enjoyed the friendship of "rapid running" devotees from Maine to South Carolina. Mark also enjoyed gardening, growing beautiful flowers, vegetables, and houseplants. He greatly enjoyed playing with his cat, Gizmo. Mark was an accomplished musician, playing guitar and keyboard. He wrote much of his own music and played regularly with his musician friends.

Mark is survived by Nancy Purnell, of Ashford, who was his loving companion and brought much joy to his life; his mother Marianne Myracle of Somers; father John Myracle and Faith O'Hagan, of Florence, Colo.; sister Kellie Myracle Pellegrino and husband, David, of Cummington, Mass.; brother Michael and wife, Germaine, of Fitzwilliam, N.H.; and eight nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Kenneth in December 2006.

There will be no calling hours, a graveside service will be held Monday, Oct. 19, at 4 p.m. in Somers at Middle Cemetery on Battle Street.

Somers Funeral Home provided the cremation services.