Jayne Bailey Mark

1921 - 2011

Jayne Bailey Mark was born March 24, 1921, in Newsoms, Va., to Eason Julian Bailey and Rosa Adkins. Jayne outlived all seven of her brothers and sisters. She passed away April 9, 2011, of a heart attack while on her 25th cruise.
She spent her early years in Virginia before she headed to Bremerton, Wash., to work in the shipyards. In 1945, she met and married her husband of more than 65 years, Raymond A. Mark. Together they embarked on an adventure of a lifetime together.
In 1947, they headed north to Alaska in a 1941 Dodge with all their belongings in the back and their 1-year-old son, Michael. They worked together at the Fox General Store until the spring of 1948 when they homesteaded 138 acres at 6.5 Mile Steese Highway, which became known as Mark Acres.
In 1950, Jayne flew out to Washington and gave birth to her daughter, Patricia. During the years, Jayne, along with her family, ran a fireworks stand, a cafe, a rifle range and a trap range. Later, she assisted both Raymond and Michael with Mark Acres Housemovers. She was always ready to be a lead car, follow car or whatever they needed. It was at times hard, but it was a unique and wonderful life.
For 19 years she was known as the "shell lady" at the fair. Ray and Jayne spent many winters traveling around the U.S. and going on cruises. Two years ago they sold the last of their homestead and moved to Florida full time where she took great pleasure in feeding her birds. She loved Woody, Snowy and all of her little yellow feet.
She was a loving and caring wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and now a great-great-grandmother and a good friend to many. In a life story she wrote for her daughter in 1997, she said "the grand old territorial days were the best - friends and neighbors helping each other. We took the time to listen and take advice from the long ago old-timers because they knew."
Jayne was a true Alaskan Sourdough. She was a life member of Pioneers of Alaska Women's Igloo 8 and a life member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Auxiliary 1037. In earlier years, she was a charter member of the Midnight Sun Lioness Club.
She was preceded in death by her son, Michael. She is survived by her husband, Raymond Mark; her daughter and son-in-law, Patricia (Patti) and Don Benjamin of Fairbanks; her grandchildren, Michelle Acciardo of North Carolina,, Marguerite Bean of Maryland, Annette Rala (Floyd) of North Carolina, and Jonathan Powell-Mark of Fairbanks; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and many nieces and nephews from the East Coast to the West Coast who truly loved their "Aunt Jayne." She was friend to many who also will miss her.
She will be laid to rest at a private service at Northern Lights Memorial Park.
A celebration of her life for family and friends will be held at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 27, at Dog Mushers Hall. Please come and share with the family.
Arrangements were entrusted to Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home.