Mark Taylor Kirwan, born June 8, 1958, in Seattle, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 18, 2016. Diagnosed on March 24, 2016, with liver cancer, he passed away peacefully in his sleep, at the age of 57, at Puget Sound VA Hospital in Seattle with his wife and family by his side.
He attended Stanwood schools until he graduated in June of 1976. From 1976 – 1980, Mark served in the U.S. Army Special Forces before moving back to Stanwood. He attended Skagit Community College in Mount Vernon, Washington, in 1997 and earned a degree in computers.
Mark met his wife, Debbi K. Lyon, in Stanwood in 1997; they married in Reno, Nevada, on Aug. 6, 2001. For nearly 19 years, they have made their home in the Methow Valley.
Throughout his adult life, he suffered with chronic head and back pain, but never let it deter him from being kind, caring, and loving to everyone. Mark loved spending time with his family and friends — fishing, hunting, camping as well as taking long walks on the beaches of the Oregon coast with Debbi, or simply helping wherever he saw a need.
He is survived by his wife of almost 15 years, Debbi K. Lyon-Kirwan, and their seven children: T. James Welborn (Liz) of Topeka, Kansas, Jeremy Welborn (Korinn) and Tyler Welborn of Twisp, Summer Kirwan-Jacobsen (Westley) of Stanwood, Kyle Welborn of Arlington, Patti Kirwan (Arthur Jones) of Lawrence, Kansas, and Julie Kirwan of Stanwood; his father-in-law Wesley A. Lyon; sister-in-law Cheri (Keith) Johnsen; brother-in-law Kevin Lyon; and Mark (Karrie) Lyon are all of Arlington. He also leaves a mother, Joanne Wallawine, sister Mary Donovan, brothers Stuart (Lisa) Wallawine and Scott (Lori) Wallawine, all of Stanwood, as well as 21 grandchildren, and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews.
His father, Alan L. Kirwan, and older brother William “Bill” Huff preceded Mark in death.
A celebration of life will be May 14, 2016, at Restoration Church, 788 N. Smith Road, Camano Island, Washington, at 11 a.m. with a potluck luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to cancer research, as Mark’s diagnosis was bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), a very aggressive type of cancer. Thank you!
