Mark Alan Satterthwaite

Mark Alan Satterthwaite, born June 8, 1949 in Tacoma, WA to Guy B. and Helen Dorothy (Squier) Satterthwaite, died January 20, 2014 at Hospice of the Valley, Lund House, in Gilbert, AZ.


Mark attended school in Tacoma, graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1967. He later graduated from Central Washington State College in 1973 with a degree in Business Administration. During his years at Central Washington, he met his wife of 40 years, Helen Cristine (Cris) Mickelson, of Dayton, WA. The two were married on June 23, 1973 at Grace Episcopal Church in Dayton.


Mark's first job out of college was with the G.E. Supply Company as an electrical equipment sales representative. The position with G.E. moved Mark and Cris to Medford, OR for two years. This was followed by a return to Seattle for a job with TAL Agencies. In 1978, his career transitioned to the Bellevue, WA office of Cutler-Hammer, a manufacturer of electrical equipment. Cutler-Hammer was later acquired by Eaton Corporation and in 1989 Mark transferred to Milwaukee, WI. He and Cris lived there for 5 years. In 1995 they moved further east to Sumter, SC where Eaton Electrical has a manufacturing facility. Mark was promoted to Manager-Marketing and Strategic Planning for the Electrical Assemblies Division. In 2011 Mark's job transferred him to the Eaton facility in Chandler, AZ.


In his career, Mark enjoyed travelling from coast to coast, meeting friends, associates, customers, and competitors. His engaging personality endeared him to all. He was actively involved with the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) association where he served on a number of their committees.


In his youth, Mark loved skiing and river rafting. He played soccer in an "over 30" league in addition to coaching "The Rangers" soccer team, a team of 5-7 year-olds in Mequon, WI. He loved rock music and credited much of his hearing loss to being a rabid supporter of his friend's bands. In the warm weather of the south he played golf, travelling with Cris and friends to beach courses and the mountains of North Carolina. One year, on the spur of the moment he decided he and Cris should travel to England. In the cold and very short days of November they found the village of Satterthwaite in the Lakes District.


As Mark neared retirement, he disappointingly was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, an autoimmune disease that destroys the bone marrow. He persevered through a long and debilitating treatment, never losing his optimism while diligently following a difficult medical regime. He died peacefully from complications of the disease with Cris and his sister Kim at his bedside.


Mark loved people, dogs and traveling. He laughed at everyone's jokes, including his own. He was generous with his time, always willing to lend a hand and was up for any adventure as long as it didn't involve shopping. Someone described Mark as "funny, smart, and quick to be the first to laugh". His good nature, his optimism, and his sense of humor created a warm space around all of us who knew him.


He is survived by his wife Cris, his sister Kim Satterthwaite of DuPont WA, his aunt Mary Jo of Lodi CA, cousins Susan, Jason, Rod and Scott, and dearest friends, the Ellis family.


Donations may be made in Mark's memory to Hospice of the Valley www.hov.org/donate or the charity of your choosing.