Mark Crandall Wilson:  A Bucket List Life of Love Mark Crandall Wilson, husband, father, son, brother, friend and inspiration to thousands battling cancer played his final game and left the stadium on February 21, 2019.  Mark won his first World Series against the out of town and unwelcomed team cancer in 1999.  Always the coach, he was determined to teach us all how to play the game. Mark went on to win 19 consecutive World Series, making what may be one of the longest winning streaks in sports history.   In the final game of the 19 th series, Mark stepped up to the plate at the bottom of the ninth and hit a remarkable home-run out of the stadium, cheating the opposing team out of extra-innings and a prolonged battle.  Mark took his final lap around the bases at 54 years old and slid into home plate where he was immediately surrounded and joyously greeted by his grandparents, relatives, and friends who he hadn't seen in a while.   Mark left a stadium filled with adoring and loving fans including his parents, Glen and Carol Wilson, brother Don and sister Nancy, his wife and most ardent fan, Roxanne, and his three all star players, son's Collin, Robbie, and Gunnar.   Mark was born August 23, 1964, in Sacramento, California, and grew up in rural Northern California where he learned to love the mountains, lakes, streams, snow, dark nights and bright stars.  He left California in 1982 to go to Brigham Young University, where he graduated with his BA in Recreational Management and from where he left to serve a LDS mission in the Korea Seoul West Mission.  Although Utah's natural majesty and world class snow (and substantially right of California politics) were huge incentives to stay, it was the beautiful Roxanne Griffin, who became Mrs. Wilson that got him to call Utah his permanent home.  Mark and Roxanne were married on August 13, 1993, in the Logan LDS Temple for time and all eternity.  Three sons would follow and Collin, Robbie, and Gunnar would ensure that Utah would be where his heart would stay while on this earth. Mark loved everything that Utah has to offer and made sure that he took advantage of it.  Mark loved to ski and skied like a pro, worked as Ski Patrol, an avalanche prevention bomber, skied down Provo canyon just "because of the snow," and even got to be head gate judge during the Olympics.  His love of the outdoors extended through the seasons, where he mountain biked, golfed, hunted, fished, and took every opportunity to be outside.  Mark's love of the outdoors extended beyond Utah's borders to distant oceans, where he scuba dived and relished swimming with the sharks.  Nobody that knew Mark has to be told that he loved baseball or that his favorite team was the San Francisco Giants.  He got to check off many of his bucket list items by visiting stadiums across the country and attending a World Series.  Mark instilled a deep love of the game in his sons and coached them until they graduated.  He later went on to fulfill a life long dream and coached the Providence High School team.   Mark's love of baseball extended beyond the game; because for him it was also a powerful symbol of everything he loved about his Country.  Mark deeply loved America and was a true patriot.  He cherished the freedoms that we enjoy and always showed gratitude for the men and women who protect us and keep those freedoms alive.   Far above and beyond all his passions and pastimes, Mark loved and cherished his family.   He loved and adored Roxanne and would do absolutely anything for her, as long as it didn't involve cleaning a toilet!  In truth there are no words to describe how deeply he loved her or his commitment to her.  He truly would have walked through fire for her and found so much of his strength to fight his cancer from her.  Roxanne took care of Mark until the end and the vow, "to love in sickness and in health," has never been more beautifully or faithfully kept as by her over the last 19 years of his battle. Roxanne was the foundation of his strength, but his three sons gave him the purpose to be a fighter and an example of how to face life's challenges.  Mark often said, "Boys become men and men become boys," and wanted to see his beloved boys grow into men.  His strength allowed him to survive for 19 years and see them graduate and serve missions, but it was the journey to get them there where he shined as a father.   Mark never missed an event.  He dedicated his life to seeing every baseball or football game, every play, every competition, whether it was in Herriman, Southern Utah, Nevada or California.   Even when Mark was not feeling well or recovering from an operation, somehow he made it to the important events.  Mark took his boys fishing, hunting, camping, skiing, biking, motorcycle riding, and more.  And even though he was also fond of saying that he chose to have boys to "do chores and gut the animals he hunted," his every breath was dedicated to being the best father he could be.   Mark's love of family was extensive and expansive.  He was a dedicated son and brother and deeply loved the Wilson side of his family, but he quickly adopted and equally loved the Griffin side.  The two families made Mark feel whole and he leaves behind hundreds of extended family that will miss him deeply.  Mark loved his sons, but he was grateful for and deeply loved all the nieces who stood in for the daughter he never had.   Mark also leaves behind his best friends, Steve with whom he shared nearly a lifetime of experiences and Brian, who is more aptly called a brother from a different mother.  They were always there for him and their friendship was an important source of strength and joy for Mark. Mark may have fought cancer for 19 years, but looking at how he lived life you would never know it.   Mark lived everyday to the fullest and checked off more bucket list items in his 54 years than most could do in three life times.  To be able to accomplish that took family, friends, church, his deep faith, and abiding love of the Savior, and an amazing medical staff throughout the years.   His family would personally like to thank everyone who has supported him, but especially all the dedicated doctors and nurses at the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, the oncology staff, and especially Dr. Reddy and Dr. Hardman. Mark was a fighter and experienced so many miracles throughout his 19 years battle with cancer that it was easy to believe he would outlive all of us.  He was an inspiration to many others who are still fighting cancer and for many who have already lost the fight.   In the weeks prior to his passing, Mark was feeling better than he had in a long time.  He was positive, happy, and energetic.  He went in on February 21 st for a routine checkup.  He was not feeling anxious, joked around with the doctors and nurses, and thought he would be home by 10 am.   Roxanne was there with him to hold his hand and kiss him before he went in.   He left the game peacefully and true to his word made it home before 10 am.  We know he is being embraced and welcomed home by so many who love him as much as we do.  Mark will be deeply missed, but we are grateful to have been blessed by him and that he got to live and love fully until the end. To say goodbye and celebrate Mark's life, friends are invited to two viewings that will be held on Wednesday, February 27 th from 6 to 8 pm and February 28 th from 9:30 to 10:45am and/or to the funeral service on Thursday, February 28 th, at 11am, which will be followed by an interment across from the chapel.  A reception will follow. Address for all events is: Latter Day Saint Herriman Stake Center 12737 South, 6000 West Herriman, Ut To honor Mark and his love of all things baseball and America, if you are inclined to do so, Roxanne is asking that you consider wearing red, white, and/or blue. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Mark's name to: The Huntsman Cancer Foundation In Memory of Mark Wilson 500 Huntsman Way Salt Lake City, UT 84108 https://www.gofundme.com/jnj28-mark-wilson-funeral-fund?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb_co_shareflow_m