Major Mark Anderson, 62, of Huntsville, AL passed away Friday, October 17th, 2025. Mark was a lifelong Huntsville resident, graduating from Butler High School and then Auburn University (where he was a walk on to the AU football team) and Faulkner University where he earned a degree in business. As a lifelong and extremely loyal Auburn fan, his beloved daughters Lainey and Ellie had no choice about where they would attend college.
Mark leaves behind his beloved wife Misty, his sisters Martha Lynn Hovis (Mike), Melanie Kuberg (Harry) and Sherry Grant (Ray), his beloved in-laws, Karen Elmore, Augden and Tess Short, Andy Short and partner Amye Krogstad, Genna and Brent Fincher, numerous nieces and nephews, friends, who were family lovingly referred to as the Shanderwells, and many, many close personal friends.
Mark began his career in the Army National Guard, where he attended Army Infantry School, Officer Candidate School, Information Operations Battalion, flew Black Hawk helicopters and Fixed Wing. He also went through Army Airborne School, Special Forces School, SERE training, Combat Diver School, Rotary Wing Flight, and Aviation Officer Advanced Schools.
He was certified as an Advanced Open Water Diver, Commercial Instrument Helicopter pilot, member of the City of Huntsville Fire Academy, FAA rated Airline Transport Pilot, and certified with EMT and Advanced Lifesaving. He retired from active duty service as a Major after 20 years of service. He received the Army Commendation Medal, the National Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal and many ribbons and badges which are too numerous to count. It was no surprise to anyone who knew him well that he simultaneously served as a fire fighter for the Huntsville Fire Department throughout his career.
Mark’s entrepreneurial spirit quickly led him to start a highly successful landscape business, Landscape South, and he continued to work as a highly regarded Airline Transport Pilot and a pilot for ASA Airlines. Although he approached his business with the same commitment and enthusiasm as every other facet of his life, flying was his passion from his earliest days.
If there was anything Mark loved more than flying, it was his family. He gave his whole heart to his wife of 30 years, Misty, and their daughters, Lainey and Ellie. He taught them everything from how to fly to how to follow their dreams. He created a life steeped in adventure, bravery, friendship, and faith, and their entire family flourished. Mark loved every person in his life with intentionality and devotion.
The word most people use to describe Mark is ‘unique’, the stories about him are innumerable, always ending in laughter. Mark was strong, brave, disciplined, and outrageously fun. As a result, he assumed everyone around him was exactly the same. That meant it didn’t matter if you were 8 years-old or 85 years-old–if Mark was going scuba diving, everyone was going scuba diving. If Mark parachuted from a plane, you also parachuted from a plane. Mark loved to water ski and having his friends and family together at the lake are some of his family and friends’ most cherished memories. He loved all dogs but loved his precious black labrador Stella the very most.
Mark’s bravery instilled confidence in everyone around him, and he inspired others to live lives of boldness and outrageous love. The world will never be the same without this beloved friend, husband, brother, and father. Mark will never be forgotten and anyone blessed to know him is forever changed. He was an encourager, a leader, a man of principle and action, but above all, he was a man who loved his family and friends with a unique passion. We miss him so much.
Visitation will be from 4 – 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 30, 2025 at Southwood Presbyterian Church, 1000 Carl T. Jones Drive. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 11:00 am, also at Southwood. A simulcast of the service and overflow parking will be available at Mayfair Church of Christ, 1095 Carl T. Jones Drive. The burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Harris Home for Children, 1210 Church St NW, Huntsville, AL 35801 (https://www.harrishomeforchildren.org/donate-help), A New Leash on Life, 707 Andrew Jackson Way, Huntsville, AL 35801, (https://www.anewleash.org/donate) or the Anderson Memorial Fund.
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and self- discipline.”
