Obituary of Mark A. Thompson

Mark A. Thompson, born May 2, 1951 in Belfast, Maine to Merton and Beatrice (Place) Thompson, passed unexpectedly on September 12, 2014 at the home he shared with Valerie Derosier in Morrill, Maine. Mark was born an outdoorsman. As a child, he enjoyed hunting and fishing trips with his father. He graduated Belfast Area High School in 1969 and attained his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Husson College in 1973. While working with Dutch Chevrolet in Belfast, Maine he pursued his lifelong dream of joining the Maine Warden Service by spending time as a warden deputy. On February 27th, 1987 he graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and was sworn into the Maine State Warden Service. He served he entire career in Waldo County and was a valuable member of the Overhead Search and Rescue Team. Mark engaged in many other interests outside of the Warden Service. Besides being an avid hunter and fisherman, Mark was a member of the Maine Retriever Trial Club and traveled across the United States and Canada competing with his three beloved black labs, Shadow, Buster and Sunny. He was also a devoted teacher, working with the Advanced Search and Rescue school, Unity College and served as a mentor to many young wardens and a special deputy, Chris Dyer. Upon his retirement in September, 2011, his love for the Maine outdoors turned into a passion for farming. He and partner Valerie Derosier created Long Shadow Farm, providing the local and surrounding communities with organic fruits and vegetables. Mark was a founding Board member of the Marsh River Co-op and could be seen weekly at Farmer’s Markets across the county. Mark is predeceased by his father, Merton W. Thompson. He is survived by his mother, Beatrice A. Thompson of Morrill, Maine; several aunts, uncles and cousins; partner Valerie Derosier of Morrill, Maine; Sharon Thompson; son Jacob M. Thompson and his partner Danietta Storer of Morrill, Maine; and daughter Jessica A. Thompson, her husband Edward O’Connor, and soon-to-be grandson O’Connor of San Diego, California. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, September 17th, from 5-7 pm at Riposta Funeral Home Belfast, Me. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 18th, 2014 at 1pm at the Morrill Baptist Church in Morrill, Maine. In lieu of flowers, we welcome donations to be sent to Marsh River Co-op, in care of Ed Hamel, PO Box 217, Brooks, Maine 04921. The Co-op can be reached at 207-722-3052. Memories and condolences may be offered to the family at www.ripostafh.com. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, September 17th, from 5-7 pm at Riposta Funeral Home Belfast, Me. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 18th, 2014 at 1pm at the Morrill Baptist Church in Morrill, Maine.