The Virtual Memorial Garden

"you must be the light" mahatma gandhi said, "that you wish to see in the world." mark mc inteer remembered those words often and lived them continuously. He lit up the paths of scores of us who knew and learned from him. he was born in washington d.c. and made his way to the cascade foothills of jackson county, oregon in the 1970s. he worked for the forest service in butte falls, where he's still affectionately remembered. mark lived hard during those years, shackled by habits that kept him from the richness of life he wanted. in his successful struggle to break those habits, mark found the courage, wisdom and compassion that allowed him to touch so many others. his official work took place mostly through community works, natural helpers and wings. but off the job, he was never off work; any conversation you had with mark, any place, any time, on almost any subject, left you with a measure of his light. during the course of our lives a few people come along and remind us of the best part of being human, not with lectures or stories, but with the open tenderness of their hearts. The care they give us-their patience, their tireless listening, their steady encouragement to become our authentic selves- is love. and so at the same time they teach us how to love. that's what mac taught us. mark leaves behind his wife corinna, their children nakia and abigail, and hundreds of grateful friends, who may for a moment have trouble following the light. but don't worry, mac. remembering you, we'll find it again.