Mark F. Towle

WEST STEWARTSTOWN – Mark F. Towle, 68, of West Stewartstown, died on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, at the Coös County Nursing Hospital with his wife by his side after a 3-month battle with brain cancer.

Mark was born in West Stewartstown on April 25, 1957, a son to Charles and Joy (Bresette) Towle. He attended school in Pittsburg until his family moved to West Stewartstown, and he later graduated from Colebrook Academy in 1975. He married the love of his life, Shannon, in 1996 on the "Pinnacle" in West Stewartstown.

Mark began his working life at Ethan Allen after high school, but later joined the family business when his father opened Towle's Market in West Stewartstown. He continued the business after his father passed away, and previously had expanded it to the upstairs level into a model train, rocket, and hobby shop. After Mark closed the store, he began working for local construction companies as a flagger and traffic control, but later started work for SAU #7 as a local school bus driver.

His passion was racing and race cars. For many years, Mark had his own car and raced at the Riverside Speedway in Groveton, collaborating with other local drivers. His friends nicknamed him "Petty" because his favorite NASCAR driver was Richard Petty, and Mark even had the number 43 on his own car; he even had his own little racing fan club. In his younger years, he also raced snowmobiles and stayed involved in the local antique snowmobile events. He also groomed snowmobile trails for the Canaan Border Riders for a time. He was also an avid hiker as a young man.

In addition, Mark enjoyed model trains and creating the entire dioramas to accompany them, and he enjoyed riding on all types of trains all over the United States. When he was young, and when the train still ran through Stewartstown, it would stop near his home on High Street and pick him up to ride to Beecher Falls, and then back again. From that experience, he had a life-long love of trains of any kind and size.

Mark and his wife and daughter also maintained a small farm at their home. Mark was a kind, quiet soul, who could sit for long periods just contemplating the world and the view from his home, and he will be missed by his many friends and family.

He was also a member of the Sons of the American Legion in Canaan.

Mark is survived by his loving wife of more than 30 years, Shannon (Maynard) Towle of West Stewartstown; his daughter, Echo Towle, of Nashua, N.H., his son, Daniel (Angel) Spytma of Michigan; his mother, Joy Towle of Canaan, Vt.; his brother, Earl Towle and his daughter Sarah Davis of Sunapee, N.H., and one as close as a sister, Debbie (Ken) Knapp of South Carolina; and three grandchildren, Sophie, Mia and Ethan Spytma.

He is predeceased by his father, Charles Towle.

There are no public services scheduled at this time. The family will have a celebration of Mark's life later in the spring of 2026, of which notice will be given.

Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook.