Obituary of Mark Stuart Harrison

Mark Stuart Harrison, 54 of West Glenmont passed away November 6, 2016 in the Valley Regional Hospital following a long battle with chronic lung disease. Mark was a kind, caring and passionate man to all he knew. He was a devoted family man who was a Teacher, Leader and Mentor in both his professional and personal life. He grew up in Richmond, BC and began his career working in the Hospitality Industry at such places as the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver, District Manager for DenCan (Denny's) Restaurants in the Lower Mainland of BC and as Catering Manager with Aramark Sports and Entertainment at GM Place in Vancouver. Later, he found a new passion for sharing his knowledge as an Instructor with Vancouver Career College in the Hospitality Management program and became owner of his own training company called Harrison Hospitality. In 2005, Mark, his wife Darcy and daughter Faith set their eyes to the East Coast to Nova Scotia back to Darcy's roots; he wanted a more laid back life for himself and his family. He settled in the beautiful Annapolis Valley, buying a Hobby Farm near Hall's Harbour overlooking the Bay of Fundy. The Hobby Farm is affectionally named "Yew Tree Farm" after his family's farm in Draycott in Clay, England. He was able to continue working in the Hospitality Industry with Sodexho Canada as the Director of Catering at Acadia University in Wolfville. He also returned briefly to Teaching as a Tourism Management Instructor at NSCC in Kentville. Later he joined the Federal Government as a Team Leader for Service Canada in Kentville, where he worked for almost 9 years. Mark realized his true passion and dreams on his hobby farm where he raised goats, sheep, cattle, chickens and a horse along with two faithful dogs, Tuuk and Pearl. In 2006, Mark and his family bean a rewarding and fulfilling association with Eastern Kings 4-H Club in Sheffield Mills. In this role, his ability to teach and lead was apparent and a very important part of his life. He will be eternally grateful for all the many friends and families he has met through 4-H over the years. He had a passion for Classic County Music and anything "Western", attending many local rodeos with family and friends as well as the Professional Bull Riding Finals (PBR) and National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas, NV numerous times. Mark will be greatly missed and there will be a hole left in all the lives of those he touched. Arrangements have been entrusted to Serenity Lindsay Annapolis Valley Funeral Home & Chapels, 34 Coldbrook Village Park Dr (902-679-2822). A Celebration of Life, at Mark's request, will be held on Saturday November 26, 2016 at a time to be announced in the Northville Farm Heritage Centre, 1158 Steadman Road, Centreville, NS. Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the NS Lung Assouciation, NS 4-H Club or a Charity of Your Choice.