Mark Joseph Newey

1954 - 2021

Fircrest, Washington—A quiet, gentle natured man, Mark Joseph Newey, passed from this life November 4, 2021 in Tacoma, Washington, after a courageous battle with cancer. He is the eldest son of Joseph M. and Margaret Harbertson Newey.

Mark was born July 9, 1954, in Salt Lake City, Utah and raised in the Avenues. As a youth, the foothills behind his home were his stomping ground – bringing home to reside in his room – garter snakes, tarantulas, lizards and other creatures which he found on his frequent outings. His mother drew the line on mice in the house. Eventually a falcon, and later, "Louise the rat" were added to the menagerie. Mark's time spent in the foothills became part of his education and affinity to nature. His love of the outdoors and creatures extended throughout his life, including the recent company of Sid and Maria; chameleons which provided endless intrigue as he watched them "dance" to his music.

Mark was a prolific reader of books, manuals, and scientific journals. He was skilled at playing guitar, skiing, and road cycling (often riding his bike from Salt Lake City to Logan, Utah where he attended Utah State University).

Mark served in the France Switzerland Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973-1975. In 1987, Mark married Nancy L. Nelson. They later divorced.

Mark worked many jobs, promoting his own inventions. He found great satisfaction working for Tacoma Community College where he developed and modernized many of their computer systems.

In 2010, Mark married Seung Schatz who shared his love of outdoor adventure. He treasured becoming "Grandpa Mark" to Talan, Isabella and Eli.

Mark lived in, and loved, the Fircrest, Washington community where he found many true friends. He became a community icon playing his guitar and singing on his front porch, in parks, and local taverns. He took pleasure when people danced to his music. Mark's neighbors will miss his frequent front-porch guitar performances which were sometimes accompanied by self-made laser light shows. Mark's deepest desire was to bring JOY to all who crossed his path.

Mark is survived by his wife, Seung, stepdaughter Susan (Kevin Clark), his siblings and their spouses: Diane (Vee Butterfield), Brian (Kay Lynn), Laura (Mark Duffin), Lincoln (Lori), Paul (Katrina), Lisa (John Stringham), and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Keith Maynes, nieces Sarah and Melissa Maynes, and nephew Christopher Maynes.

Mark's family wishes to express sincere thanks to the owners and staff at Envision Hospice in Tacoma, St. Anthony's Place Adult Family Home in Fircrest and Ararat Adult Family Home in Parkland. Also, a sincere thank you to James Dewey, James Mitchell, and neighbors who watched over and cared for him as his health declined.

Memorial Services will be held:

Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 11:00 AM

Parleys 1st Ward Chapel

2350 S 2100 E

Salt Lake City, Utah 84109

The services will also be broadcast at 11:00 AM Mountain Time. Watch live at https://youtu.be/V9jnPd0Cmoc or https://tinyurl.com/MarkNewey

Mark will be interred at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

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

Published by Deseret News from Nov. 24 to Dec. 3, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Mark Newey

14 Entries

Tom McKinney

December 24, 2021

Very sorry to hear about the loss of "Elder Newey". He and I were new missionaries together assigned to the same district in Nice, France in late 1973 and early 1974. Mark was a dear friend I saw from time to time during those two years and loss contact with him after our missions. I send my condolences and heartfelt prayers discovering this obituary of his passing just this month.

Clark Family

Sent Flowers

william hansen

December 2, 2021

Mark was a very dear friend from growing up on 18th avunue. We spent lot of time together and had many adventures, including numerous hours hunting lizards in the gravel pits and sleeping in a sulfur cave. We even started a business, silk screening T-shirts in a spare room at the Clover Club potato plant on State Street. Mark was a very unique individual and I very much enjoyed his company. He had lots of creative ideas and was a very interesting person. He different from my other friends and I learned a lot from him. He was very gentle, kind and was never mean to anyone. I don´t recall him ever being upset. I enjoyed visiting with Mark at the funeral of his father not long ago. I am sorry that he has gone so soon. We will miss him.

Bill Hansen

william hansen

December 2, 2021

Mark was a very dear friend from growing up on 18th avenue. We spent lot of time together and had many adventures, including numerous hours hunting lizards in the gravel pits and having a sleep out in a sulfur cave. We even started a business, silk screening T-shirts in a spare room at the Clover Club potato plant on State Street. Mark was a very unique individual and I very much enjoyed his company. He had lots of creative ideas and was a very interesting person. He w as different from my other friends and I learned a lot from him. He was very gentle, kind and was never mean to anyone. I don´t recall him ever being upset. I enjoyed visiting with Mark at the funeral of his father not long ago. I am sorry that he has gone so soon. We will miss him.

Bill Hansen

Krystal Newman

November 30, 2021

I lived down the street from Mark and would often see him walking around with his guitar, singing and smiling. On my own walks, I would pass by his house and would always see his tinkerings on the porch or front lawn and wonder what he was up to. Both of these things would put a smile on my face and joy in my heart. Our neighborhood has lost a wonderful soul. I don´t doubt he is strumming that guitar up in heaven.

Wife, Seung Newey

Sent Flowers

Michael Dowdle

November 29, 2021

I served with Mark as a missionary in the Switzerland Geneva Mission in 1975. In fact, he was my trainer. What I learned from Mark was kindness and gentleness. Mark may have had his quirks, but he was always kind to me. He was also an excellent speaker and writer of French. He loved to speak it well and insisted that I do the same. I owe him much for that. I also enjoyed his love of the guitar. He felt more about music than most, and his love of gentle melodies is one of my fondest memories of him. I am sorry that he is gone, as he made the world a more interesting place.

Rick Randall

November 28, 2021

Remembering Mark running the Centralia time trials in the 90's. Mark liked to help others.

Jackie Nicholl

November 27, 2021

We are so sorry to learn of Mark´s passing. Our friendship of almost 50 years was very special and brings back many good memories. Mark lived life his way and will be greatly missed. We hope his family finds comfort in their memories and love of hm.
Je ne t´oublierai jamais mon ami.

Al Hartmann

November 27, 2021

Became a friend with Mark at USU in the late 70's early 80's. He always marched to a different drummer. He was kind, creative and a lover of animals. I remember many times he would stop by our house with his rat "Lucy" tucked inside his coat on his way to Salt Lake City on bitterly cold Winter nights riding on his early version of a mountain bike. I was always a bit worried but he made the trip many times. He was tougher than he appeared and was ahead of his time.

Jack & Julie Fagan

November 27, 2021

Lincoln and Lori,
Please accept our sympathy on the passing of your dad. While we never met him, he appears to have left quite a legacy. Embrace the memories and listen to the guitar just a tad differently.

Michael Jablonski

November 24, 2021

I am sorry to learn of Mark's passing. I have not seen Mark for many years. I used to ski with him, played backgammon and hacky sack with him, and simply hung out with him in the early eighties. I was his best man at his wedding to Nancy in 1987, in Mount Rainer National Park. Mark reengineered an old bicycle into a mountain bike years before mountain bikes became common and popular. Mark was a kind and gentle soul. I regret losing touch with him over the years.

Rick Williams

November 24, 2021

Our sympathy to Mark's family and all the Newey's. Marks dad and my dad were dear friends from their missions and I have spent time in the Newey home when I was a teenager! Our hearts are with you!!

Kevin LaMont Smith

November 24, 2021

This is so sad to hear of Mark's passing. His life was well lived! I remember his Falcon, and how troubled he was that it passed from pesticide poisoning. That conversation made me an environmentalist at a young age. I express my heartfelt sympathy to the Newey Family, you have all endured so much in this earthly realm, but you always showed others your courage and resilience. Sincerely, Kevin L. Smith Your 18th Ave Neighbor

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