Mark Belmont Norton died unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 8, at the young age of 47. He was loved by so many and leaves a devoted family behind.

Mark lived most recently in East Falmouth with his life partner of 16 years, Norie Lundgren Collins. He is the son of Allen and Judy Norton of Oyster Pond, and a loved brother of Rachael Norton Boone, her husband Darris and of Melissa Norton Vincent, and her husband Peter. Mark was an uncle and Halo Xbox companion to Taylor and Chase Eppers, Peter Vincent and Justin, Morgan and Camryn Boone. He will always be remembered as a devoted friend to many across the Cape and Islands.

Mark was born Sept. 12, 1967, and attended the Mullen Way Nursery School just up the street from his home as well as the Edgartown School.

He graduated from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in 1985 and went on to work for Carroll’s Trucking in Vineyard Haven where he happily stayed for many years. Mark worked construction and drove trucks on Martha’s Vineyard as well as Falmouth and Florida. He was employed by Dolphin Stryker Building Supplies at the time of his passing a job he loved with a true friend for a boss. Everyone who knows Mark has a memorable story to share, and he will be remembered for the twinkle of mischief that was ever-present in his eye as well as his contagious laugh. Mark was an Island boy who enjoyed water skiing on the Oyster Pond in the summer and hunting the land in the fall. He loved 70s and 80s music, any kind of comedy but especially Saturday Night Live, Richard Pryor and the pages of Mad Magazine. He had a deep love for animals that started at an early age with turtles and continued into adulthood with his beloved pit bull Zoey his birds Bob, Franklin and Little Bird as well as rabbit named Rambo.

A memorial visitation hour will be held on Thursday, April 16, 11 a.m. followed by a noon service in the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs. Interment will follow in the New Westside Cemetery, Edgartown. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Felix Neck Wildlife Preserve. Mark loved going there as a child and sustained a love for the wildlife he was introduced to there. Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, in memory of Mark B. Norton, P.O. Box 494, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 or felixneck@massaudubon.org.