Mark Tullis Obituary

Longtime Alaska resident Mark Tullis, 52, died at his Anchorage home on May 22, 2010.

Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at JJ's Lounge, 624 Muldoon Road.

Mark's ashes will be spread at the place on the Kenai River where his mother's ashes were committed two years ago.

Mark was born Nov. 12, 1957, to Edward Tullis and Laura Thornburg Tullis in Kings, Calif. The family lived in the Pacific Northwest before moving to Alaska in 1966.

Mark's lifelong passion was playing pool. He started playing in his early teens and continued until his death. He was an excellent player and well-respected in the pool community. He won multiple 8-Ball and 9-Ball open state championships, and he was a member of JJ's pool team that placed high in the standings many times in the annual Billiard Congress Championships held yearly in Las Vegas. Mark, known as "Spitz," mentioned in several Anchorage Daily News articles on pool playing, was also a two-time-straight pool champ and former professional player who once said about his playing, "I love the competing part of the game." In one practice session, he once ran 210 balls in a row.

His family often came in contact with strangers who watched him play or had played against him, and there were many compliments about his talent and character.

His family wrote: "Mark was a very sensitive, easygoing, funny and likable guy. He would go out of his way to be helpful."

Mark had many friends, including James Lester, Ross Brewington, Dennis Clark, Thomas Wayne, Mark and Sue Griffin, Bill Stock, Kim Allen, Larry Carmichael, Joe Bradley and many more.

Mark was preceded in death by his mother, Laura.

Mark is survived by father, Edward Tullis; brothers, Tim, Dan and Tom; and sister, Karen Tullis of Anchorage.

Arrangements were made by Evergreen Memorial.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Anchorage Daily News from Jun. 2 to Jun. 4, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Mark Tullis

7 Entries

Susan Sexton

May 27, 2025

Mark was a wonderful man. He and I met and were friends in Jr. High. We came together again in our early 30´s and had a loving relationship for many years. He was a sweet, caring, loving person who loved the game of pool more than anything. He would blast "Mama said knock you out" by LLCool J before every tournament or big game he had. He was one of the kindest men I have ever known, willing to help anyone who asked. I am a better person for having known him.

Ron Ventress

May 18, 2019

Mark was a good friend, we attended Clark Jr. High and hung out together in the summer playing pool and getting into mischief. I only lived in Anchorage for a couple yrs. but it was good times and i enjoyed his friendship.

Holly Reimer

June 8, 2010

My thoughts and prayers and deepest sympathy to Mark’s family and close friends. He was far too young to go, but God surly asked him home because he has bigger plans for him. Please take comfort knowing Mark was a guy who truly had a big heart. He would put the needs of others many times before his own. I got to know him thru my cousin Kim, who dated and lived with Mark for several years back in the 80’s when he lived in a duplex off the Old Seward Highway. We hung out together all the time. Those were the “party days.” They even had a room fixed up for me to crash there whenever I wanted. He spoiled my cousin and he took good care of her. I thank him for that. I also believe they really needed each other back then-they went thru both good and bad times. I remember Edwin always in the garage and an endless stream of visitors.
I was there when he had his custom pool table made. I don’t really remember who all was there, but he had us all write something on the slate before the felt was laid down-don’t remember what we wrote but I felt special to have taken part in it. He tried teaching me some pool tricks but pool was definitely not my forte. The three of us also went on vacation together. We went to Washington and then to Hawaii and had a wonderful time-Geeeze that was nearly 30 years ago. I have not seen Mark since those days, but he is somebody I’ve always thought about and will never forget.
My cousin and I are planning on being there to help send him off to his final journey.
May Mark rest in peace.
Respectfully,
Holly Reimer

judy savage

June 6, 2010

mark was a wonderful person to know, he will be missed by many all around and i truely enjoyed playing pool with him. my sympathies to his family and his pool playing family and friends. judy savage

Tami Williams

June 4, 2010

My Deepest Sympathy to the Family. I had the honor to play pool with Mark as did my son. He was a very nice guy and he always had words of encouragement and advice for myself, my son, as well as others. It was an honor - God Bless...

Susan Sexton Ashley

June 3, 2010

Mark was a wonderful and loving man. He touched my life in a way that can't be measured. From knowing him at Clark Jr. High to our re-union as adults and a loving partnership that lasted several years, he made me a better person.

Marisa

June 2, 2010

We offer our deepest sympathy. When tragedy strikes and takes the life of our loved ones, many cry out with great sorrow. Your tears are not unnoticed by the Creator of Life. Never was it his purpose for our human lives to be taken away. Although your deep pain will not easily disappear, prayer to God will bring comfort to you as you grieve. The Bible assures us God "is healing the broken hearted ones, and is binding up their painful spot." Psalm 147:3

Showing 1 - 7 of 7 results