Mark Joseph Poley, 71, of Sevierville, TN, passed away peacefully in his bed at home on March 22, 2024. It is exactly where he wanted to be for his final days. He was surrounded by family during his last moments. Even though his death was expected after a courageous battle with cancer, his loss is still unexpected for as quickly as it happened.

Mark was born in 1952 to Hilda and Richard Poley in Liberty, New York. He grew up in White Sulphur Springs, New York. He was the youngest of five children: Helen Schwartz, Richard (Dick) Poley, Gail Bose, and Nancy Borden.

Mark graduated from Liberty High School in 1970. He was a member of the Liberty drum and bugle corps and played the bass in high school band, but always loved getting outside to trap, fish, and hunt. He loved his pet parrot Polly. Mark especially loved drag racing his Suzuki motorcycle at Island Dragway in New Jersey.

He took a few college classes with thoughts of perhaps being a doctor. Instead, he became a “diesel doctor” and spent a career fixing cars, trucks, and all kinds of vehicles and motors.

He joined the United States Navy in 1970 as a mechanic and served aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid CV-11 aircraft carrier. His military service allowed him to travel around the world and see countries such as Spain, Norway, and Italy. After his military service, Mark accepted a job with Yellow Freight in Maybrook, New York, and spent more than 25 years as a Class A Diesel Engine Mechanic.

It was Mark’s expertise as a mechanic and his friendly demeanor that made him everyone’s best friend. Not only did he help as a scoutmaster with Cub Scout Pack 101 in Rock Hill, New York, he often spent time after work helping people fix their cars and answer any questions on vehicle repair. It became his hobby that lasted well after his retirement from Yellow Freight.

However, Mark was not one to stay retired.

After working in New York his entire career, he and his wife Patricia Stackhouse moved to Sevierville, Tennessee, in 2007 to begin a career as a mechanic with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Mark would laugh that he discovered “government” work that included lunch breaks, not punching a time clock, getting paid to visit Fontana Dam to repair barges, and plenty of time waiting for parts order approvals. It allowed him to truly discover the Smokies and all the beautiful places he and Patricia enjoyed as often as they could. They volunteered tagging monarch butterflies in the Cades Cove section of the park, enjoyed going to Trail Days in Damascus, Virgina, and Mule Days in Columbia, Tennessee. They often spent time in Puerto Rico on vacation.

Once again, in Tennessee, Mark started fixing cars for friends and co-workers. His garage was often full of cars he would spend time repairing during his off hours. He could fix anything and solve any problem. No matter how big or small of an engine, Mark could take it apart, stare at it, and figure out how to repair it. He most likely kept NAPA Auto Parts and other area parts stores in business.

Mark was modest, humble, and of Christian faith. He could start a friendly conversation with anyone and was loyal to those he got to know. He loved going for rides in the mountains and woods just to explore. He and Patricia loved going to concerts, NASCAR and NHRA races, hiking, ice hockey games, restaurants, and watching for bears and other wildlife. He even spent time as the leader of the Sevierville N.A.R.F.E. (National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association).

He is survived by his wife Patricia Stackhouse, his daughter Brandi Gropp (husband John), son Ryan Poley (wife Samantha and Samantha’s children Zach, Joey, and Jasmine), Patricia’s son Alex Cabrero (wife Kylie Howarth), his grandson Gavin Poley (Ryan’s son), his sister Nancy Borden, his beloved cats River and Tinder, as well as several nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Mark on Friday, March 29th from 5pm to 8pm at the Twin Creeks Pavilion at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with a small service at 5:30pm on site.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Catman2 Shelter. It is a non-kill shelter just for cats that meant a lot to Mark. The address is Attn: Kaleb, 635 Bo Cove Road, Cullowhee, NC 28723.