Mark Carleton Ferris

I was so blessed to have met Mark years ago, as a teenager visiting my Grandparents house in Westfield. My Grandpa was and is huge basketball fan and he would bring me to Carrie's games, hoping I would catch the basketball bug and want to play too. Didn't end up that way. But I spent many games over the years, in the stands, and helping keep the book, watching Carrie play basketball, extremely well at that. Then life goes on and I moved. Never thinking in a million years that I would run into Mark or Julie again, especially not in little ol' Hiles. Family tradition runs deep and I spent a few Memorial Day weekends at the campground in Hiles with an amazing family that I was so blessed to be a part of for 4 years. I remember just about falling off my chair when Mark said something about "Westfield". And then I am certain I did fall off my chair when I realized that this man and his wife were Carrie's parents. Seeing them every year for Memorial Day was something I looked forward to every year. I won't be there this year, but my heart will always be there. Thinking of you all during this difficult time. Mark was one in a million. I am so glad that I got to spend that very special birthday celebration with you all and your family last Memorial Day. Mark will live on forever in all of the hearts that he touched.
-Jessica Herms (Gary and Janet Pope's Grand-daughter and part of the Strehlow crew)