Mark O’Dean York

Mark O’Dean York, 62, of Council Idaho, passed away unexpectedly on April 1, 2024. Mark was born in Boise Idaho on May 8, 1961, to Galen York and Carol (Cornwell) York. He joined his sister Jenny and brother Alan. Mark attended Meadows Valley School from kindergarten until he graduated in 1979. He excelled in basketball and enjoyed rock hounding, fishing, and hunting.

Mark met the love of his life Chris in 1982 at Foresters in McCall, Idaho. After three years together, Chris said to Mark “Will You Marry Me?” and he said “yes.” On August 24th, 1985, at Last Chance Campground in New Meadows, Idaho, Chris gave him his last chance to say “no.” To that union, they welcomed their boy Taran in 1993. He was his dad’s favorite hunting and fishing buddy from then on.

Mark and Chris moved to Council, Idaho in 1996 where they began to build York’s Little Mountain-Top. He worked in the logging industry during his younger years and eventually went to work with his dad at York Excavation, where his brother Alan joined them a few years later. He did this until health issues forced an early retirement. Taran became the 3rd generation of York Excavators and started his own company.

Mark developed a love for jet boating on the Snake River at a very early age with his Father. He loved salmon fishing with his son and buddies, on the Little Salmon River every spring. Taran remembers when Mark would tie a rope around his waist and hold the other end of the rope while he looked for lead in the river. Other fishermen would ask what he was doing and Mark would tell them that Taran was his “redneck fish finder.”

Mark’s list of hobbies was never-ending. He was a certified scuba diver, archery and bird hunter, and antler and wood carver. Gardening also brought him joy and his wife said she was never sure if the garden did so well because of the Council climate or his green thumb. He also had a love for dogs and has left behind his two canine companions Turbo and Drake, his German shorthair, to look after his wife.

Mark gained a daughter in 2013 when his son Taran found his partner Brooke German. He welcomed her with open arms and was happy to have her join in his adventures. They loved sharing morning coffee chats and time on the jet boat. His first and only grandchild Fletcher Dean York was born in January 2019 and they were bonded at first site. Fletcher loved sitting with Mark in his recliner watching hunting and fishing shows and would tell Grandpa about all the animals they were going to shoot together.

His family and friends will always remember his cheerful whistling and the shit eat’n grin he always had plastered on his face. He was an amazing grandpa, husband, son, brother, uncle, dad and friend and the big heart he shared with so many will truly be missed. He and his wife Chris were lucky enough to share forty-two wonderful years.

His family wants to express gratitude to the community, friends, and family for their continuous support during this time. They invite you to join them for a celebration of life on Saturday, June 22, 2024; at 12:00 noon at Memorial Peace Park by the Council Fairgrounds in Council. Please bring a potluck dish, beverage, chair and memories to share. Mark loved a great potluck.