Lt. Col. Mark Edward Haythorne

1966 - 2022

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Mark Edward Haythorn, GA, passed away on May 17, 2022 at the age of 55.

Mark was born on September 9, 1966 in Lowell, MA. Mark graduated from Woodlawn High School in 1984. He was known to be athletic, outgoing, and intelligent during his teenage years. After which, he entered the U.S. Army and graduated from Loyola University Maryland in 1988 with a degree in engineering science. Aside from his family, Mark's greatest devotion was to the military. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and earned numerous awards and medals including a Bronze Star Medal, five Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Superior Unit Awards, three Overseas Service Ribbons, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, a Joint Service Achievement Medal, a Valorous Unit Award, an Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, a South West Asia Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Korean Defense Service Medal, an Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, an Army Service Ribbon, a Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, two Meritorious Civilian Service Medals, a Saint Isidore Bronze Medallion Award, a Civilian Service Commendation Medal, and a SCRA Bronze Order of Mercury Award. He spent 23 years as an active member of the U.S. Army and earned his first master's degree in design of information systems from Cranfield University's Royal Military College of Science Campus in Shrivenham, England, before retiring from active duty. Mark then continued to serve with the U.S. Army Forces Command and U.S. Army Cyber Command, and earned his second master's degree in strategic studies from the U.S Army War College.

Mark was blessed with a large and loving family. Mark met his wife to be, Karen, and they were engaged and married on May 6, 2007. Their romance lasted all 15 years and was blessed to share four children, a daughter-in-law, and a granddaughter. He kept people in laughter with his Donald Duck impersonation and dad jokes. Mark's hobbies included gardening, fishing, golfing, traveling, watching movies, celebrating military holidays, camping in his RV, collecting customized bags, luggage, patches and hats, listening to music, and watching UGA's and the Baltimore Raven's football games. He had a passionate love affair with ice cream topped with salted peanuts and every topping a diabetic shouldn't have. Mark had a passion for rugby football. During college, he played on Loyola's rugby football team (#8) and carried the nickname "Rambo". Mark was actively involved with the Society of Loyola Old Boys. He had a relationship with God and attended Compassion Christian Church – Henderson Campus. Mark will be doing these hobbies and enjoying numerous bowls of ice cream in heaven.

Mark was predeceased by his father, Spencer Haythorn. He is survived by his wife, Karen R. Haythorn; his children, Lindsey Haythorn (fiancé Erik Jarvey), Alex Haythorn, Abigail Haythorn, and Christopher Kersey (wife Erica Kersey); his granddaughter, Sophia Kersey; his mother, Karen L. Haythorn; his mother-in-law, Ruth McHugh; his siblings, Wayne Haythorn (wife Roberta Haythorn), Deborah Stephens (husband John Stephens), and Scott Haythorn (wife Roxanne Haythorn); his brothers and sisters-in-law, Deborah McHugh, Paul McHugh, Mark McHugh, Kevin McHugh (wife Helen McHugh), Shari McHugh, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 27, 2022, from 11:30-12:30 p.m., at Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Homes – WEST CHATHAM CHAPEL, 901 W. Hwy. 80, Pooler, GA. The funeral will follow at 12:30 p.m. in the chapel of the funeral home. The burial service will be held that same day at 3 p.m., at the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 8819 US-301, Glennville, GA. Flowers can be sent to the funeral home.