Mark in fourth grade as a Junior Traffic Police Officer. There is a lot of mischief in that smile. You can see it sparkling in his eyes...

Mark at age eight on right, and three of his brothers, Matt age six, Bill age one, and Luke age ten, with Frisky. Mark loved animals but Frisky was his shadow and his protector. Frisky wouldn't let anyone near Mark that he didn't know, or there would be trouble! Mark and Matt were best friends and when they reached their teens they shared a room together.

Mark and his brothers Luke and Danny with Mom

Mark was a gentle spirit with a tender heart, and was a father who loved his children dearly; "Jonathan, Artrail, Maxine, and Delilah." He had always liked that we shared the same birthday on St. Patrick's Day. Once he found a "four leaf clover" and put it in a birthday card for me. I laminated it and have always kept it under the glass on my bedside table. On our birthday now I just try to think of the good times that we had together. That makes it a little easier. We will always love and miss him so much. Mom

Mark at home behind the grill. He loved grilling out and was a fantastic cook. He made the best Thanksgiving turkey ever. That's his brother Danny's green house in background.

Mark on right with his brother Matt. They were close in age and shared a room together during their teens. They also shared many of the same interests and friends.

Mark at two years old...he has a hammer in his hand from his little tool box...a prediction of things to come?

Mark with his children at Christmas - Maxi, Jonathan, Artrail, and little Delilah in front - Maxi had a special place in his heart because she was born prematurely and he nicknamed her Patience because she was in the NICU for three months - she adored her Daddy - Jonathan is the serious one who had to grow up much too soon to help look after the younger ones - Artrail is the gentle one with a tender heart like his Daddy - Delilah is just delightful, always smiling and happy - He loved them all so much -

Mark and Matt front, Danny and Luke back - All ready to go with Mom to Sunday School which was just down the side walk, across the street and into the doors of West End Church of Christ. We moved into the home we bought across town about two years after this picture was taken.

Mark and his brothers: Danny, Luke, Mark, back row, Matt, Bill, front row
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"Red Roses for Mama's Bouquet"

God took from his beautiful rose garden, a red rose so lovely one day,
And he sent me a son named Danny, the first rose for my precious bouquet.
My first born I so longed for and loved had fulfilled my greatest desire,
The wish to become a good mother, since childhood I'd wanted to aspire.

Then God gave me a second red rose, a son I knew from the start,
Was all a mother could wish for, another blessing I tucked in my heart.
This wonderful son named Luke, so special that I scarce could perceive,
A genius, so unique, so brilliant, with such talents it was hard to believe.

God sent me a third rose named Mark, another very precious baby son.
He was different right from the beginning, so mischievous was this one!
So precocious but oh so delightful, he was quite a handful you know.
I dared not let him out of my sight, for I never knew where he might go.

My fourth red rose was Matthew, so unique in his own special way,
So caring, so good, that I already knew, a proud mother I'd be that day.
For like his Granddaddy before him, willing to work hard I already could see;
He'd be the one to go his own way, and be what he wanted to be.

My fifth red rose was named Bill, a blessing from God without measure,
For he became my heart's delight, a son any mother would treasure.
Oh what a joy, my last rose, a final blessing from God up above.
He had saved this special red rose and sent him for us all to love.

Then God knew that He had finished, the sons He had sent here to me;
Separately, they are so different; it's the way that He planned it to be.
And He said I think they are special, each in his own individual way,
But gathered together they are perfect, the red roses for Mama's bouquet.

Patricia Brady McCain

Mark with his gerbil on his shoulder that he had trained to follow him when he put it down on the ground. This is just one of the many pets he had. Barefoot as usual, he hated to wear shoes, even in cold weather.

Mark at his kindergarten graduation

Mark's monument in middle, his brother Luke right, his brother Danny left - The Brady family cemetery in Hope Hull, Alabama is on our old home place property. It is a beautiful and serene place and it is here that I will be buried beside my sons, close to Mama and Daddy and the rest of my family.