Mark K. Lucas

Washington Terrace - Mark Kilmer Lucas, 83, returned home to the loving arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ, on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, having been surrounded by his family. He was born April 29, 1940 in Binghamton, NY. A son of Edwin Stewart and Esther Louise Kilmer Lucas. Mark was reared and educated in Vestal Hills, NY. He graduated from Vestal High School, Del-Hi University, and Simmons School of Embalming and Mortuary Science in Syracuse, NY. 

He married Donna Lee Yoder on March 19, 1970 in the St. George LDS Temple. They later divorced. Mark married Carol Jean Jeppesen on June 10, 1989 in Ogden, UT. Their marriage was solemnized June 10, 1991 in the Salt Lake Temple. Mark was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings throughout his life. His most cherished calling was serving under President Ronald C. Hamblen in the Riverdale Stake High Council. 

Mark was a funeral director for 40 years in New York and Utah. He worked for Coleman & Daniels Funeral Home, Leavitt's Mortuary, Metcalf Mortuary, and Lindquist Mortuary. He was excellent at his craft. Colleagues and families still talk about what an extraordinary funeral director he was. He loved serving families in their time of need and loss more than anything.

He loved the great outdoors. Some of our fondest memories were camping at and visiting Tony’s Grove, Sunrise Campground, Lava Hot Springs, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Jackson Hole and Yellowstone National Park. He had a special love for Alaska and celebrated many important anniversaries with Carol there. He also had a passion for gardening and always had the most beautiful flower beds in the neighborhood. He was also a fabulous cook and spent a lot of time in the kitchen with his mother and made the best lasagna and chili in the world.

Mark was always late to everything! We’ve always said he would be late to his own funeral. He instilled that tardiness into some of his children and grandchildren, so hopefully his service will begin on time. He had a wonderful and witty sense of humor, the fun banter back and forth will be truly missed.

Mark will be greatly missed by his wife, Carol, children David S. Lucas, Lorye L. (Curtis) Simmons, Jared A. (Nicole) Lucas, Amy M. Lucas, Nathan M. Lucas, Mariah (Wade) Hering, Melissa A. Lemieux, Britney E. (Sale) Lucas, Abby L. (Tomas) Lucas, Stephen C. (Star) Lucas, 29 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his sister-in-law Kathleen J. (Fred) King, brother-in-law Robert P. (Susan) Jeppesen, many nieces and nephews, along with Justin (Christina) Morris, Shelly B. (Chuck) Isom, and Aaron (Ashley) Klein, who are loved as children of his own. 

The family would like to thank physicians; Stephen J. Bruce, Kendell P. Coburn, Gregory Almony, Deanna Bojanower, Dan Hansen, Dave Browning, Brett Alldredge and Sheri Brotherson for their kind and loving care. 

Funeral services will be held Monday, November 20, 2023, at 11:00 AM at the Washington Terrace 13th Ward Chapel, 125 East 5350 South with Bishop Stephen Jacobson officiating. 

Family will meet with friends on Sunday, November 19, 2023, between 6:00-8:00 PM at Leavitt's Mortuary at 836 36th Street Ogden, UT 84403 and Monday, at the Ward Chapel from 9:30-10:30 AM prior to the funeral service. Interment will be at Lindquist Washington Heights Memorial Park 4500 Washington Blvd, Ogden UT 84403. 

Murphy, I will be impatiently waiting until we're together again. - Carol

In lieu of flowers, Mark asked that donations be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at https://www.cff.org/donate which was near and dear to his heart with having a granddaughter with the disease.