After battling pancreatic cancer for nearly three years, Mark C. Healey died peacefully at Logan Regional Hospital on Monday, Dec. 10, 2007, surrounded by his immediate family. He was 60 years old. Mark was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Calvin E. and Frances M. Healey on March 7, 1947. He attended the local public schools and graduated from Granger High School in 1965.
He spent six years serving in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Mark believed in scientific inquiry to pursue knowledge and truth. He received BS and MS degrees from the University of Utah (Biology) and a PhD degree from Purdue University (Parasitology). After working 18 months as a Lecturer at Texas A&M University, Mark attended the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University where he graduated with the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (DVM) in 1981. He immediately accepted a faculty position at Utah State University (USU) where he remained employed until his death.
For the first 17 years at USU, Mark and his many graduate students did research on animal and human parasites. He taught biology and pre-veterinary science courses to a variety of undergraduate and graduate students. For the past nine years, Mark served as the Head of the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences (ADVS). His administrative motto was to treat every employee with civility, respect and fairness. He particularly enjoyed facilitating the career advancement of his fellow colleagues, which he believed was the key to being a successful administrator. Mark considered the ADVS Department to literally be an extension of his family. Prior to his death, he established the Mark C. and Jo Ann W. Healey Scholarship Quasi-Endowment Fund for all eligible ADVS student majors.
On June 20, 1969, Mark married his high school sweetheart (Jo Ann Wade) in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They were married for 38 years and had three children. Mark and Jo Ann always considered their children to be their greatest accomplishment. Rachelle (Allen) Wright teaches elementary school at the South Thomas Edison Charter School in Cache Valley. Jeffrey is doing a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Christopher is a medical student at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.
Mark was an avid fisherman for most of his life. His brother (Terry) and sister (Susan), along with two of his best fishing buddies (Mark and Dick) spent many summer months hiking, camping and fishing throughout the Uinta and Wind River Mountains. Baseball was another of his passions. His sons (Jeff and Chris) played in all of the youth leagues in Cache Valley. Jeff went on to play American Legion baseball and later played with the Smithfield Blue Sox for four consecutive years after graduating from high school. Mark and Jo Ann rarely ever missed a game.
Mark is survived by his loving wife; three children; and his brother and sister. He was preceded in death by his parents. The family expresses their sincere appreciation to Drs. Dirk Davis, Mark Ott and Ali Ben-Jacob and staff for the professional services and compassion they extended to Mark during his lengthy illness.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007, at Nelson Funeral Home, 162 E. 400 North, Logan, Utah. Friends and family may call from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com.
An extensive tribute to Dr. Healey can be viewed here> Mark C. Healey
Published in Logan Herald Journal from Dec. 12 to Dec. 20, 2007
