Mark Thaddeus Bagley
Mark Thaddeus Bagley, son of Cathy and the late Mike Bagley, died December 3, 2020, at Providence Medical Center, Anchorage, following heart surgery. He was 45.
Mark was born at Sitka Community Hospital April 3, 1975, and attended Sitka schools. In December 2001 he graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
After a short time he decided nursing was not what he wanted to do and began a career in car sales – a pursuit he thoroughly enjoyed.
While a teenager, he accompanied the Boy Scouts and his father on one of their Yukon River canoe trips. It was a trip he remembered with much pleasure.
He discovered boxing in Sitka and later joined a boxing club in Anchorage. He also enjoyed participating in Anchorage marathons.
He married Tisha Ryan December 5, 2012, in Anchorage, and they relocated soon after to Sitka, where they started a handyman business, Mark’s Enterprises.
Mark loved being outdoors fishing, camping and hunting. He spent a lot of time with his daughter swimming, berry picking, visiting the Sitka Sound Science Center, Fortress of the Bear and the library, playing video games, and looking for birds at Blue Lake, and was starting to teach her gun safety and how to shoot.
He and his daughter shared hobbies, including collecting fossils and were building a large collection of shark teeth, gem stones, and some artifacts. He had bought a telescope recently so they could begin star gazing.
Always curious about the world around him, Mark enjoyed online lectures from Great Courses on ancient history and other subjects. He was also an avid coin, gold and silver collector and trader, and was a member of American Precious Metal Exchange (APMEX).
Although he was not a group joiner, he spent much time and effort helping others, and worried about others’ needs, especially the homeless, seniors and anyone who was hurting. He was always looking for ways to give people a second chance or a hand up, and thanked those who helped him. He was extraordinarily generous and kind.
The most important love in his life was his family and, above all else, his daughter Ellen, 7.
In addition to APMEX he was a member of the Sitka Lutheran Church, Sitka Sound Science Center and Fortress of the Bear.
He was preceded in death in March by his father, Mike. He is survived by his mother, Cathy, and daughter Ellen Bagley, both of Sitka; sister Laura (William) Mallula, Fairbanks; and nephew Billy (Nicole) Mallula and children, Easton and Taron, of North Pole.
He also is survived by aunts and uncles Thad and Sandy Poulson of Sitka, and Gary and Debbie Bagley of Simpsonville, S.C.; great-aunts and -uncles; and numerous cousins.
His grandparents were Gail and Louise (Nelson) Bagley of Sitka and Tom and Grace Montgomery of Silver City, New Mexico.
Due to the pandemic, services will be scheduled later.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Sitka Sound Science Center, Fortress of the Bear, or a favorite charity.
