Sergeant Mark Stephen Shahan, a well beloved and devoted son, brother, cousin, uncle, husband, father, grandfather, friend of the community, and public servant, peacefully passed away on June 14th at his childhood home in Huntsville, Alabama, following a battle with Frontotemporal dementia.
He was born on February 2nd, 1957, in Huntsville, Alabama to Howard Lee Shahan and Lillian Marie (Osborne) Shahan. He was the middle sibling of beloved oldest sister; Sharon and younger brother; Randall. He went on to graduate from Butler High School, the University of Alabama Huntsville, and the Huntsville Police Academy. He devoted over 40 years to a fulfilling career in law enforcement beginning at the Madison County Sheriff’s Department with 40 years of service to the Huntsville Police Department. Starting in patrol, then including motorcycle patrol, bicycle patrol, SWAT team, bomb team before spending the last 17 years of his career with the City of Huntsville’s SOD Traffic unit. Here he coordinated thousands of events, runs, parades and funeral processions. If there was a local event, chances are, his fingerprints were on it. He held many career accomplishments, with awards including Community Service, Unit Citations, Supervisor of the Year, Life Saving Medal, Meritorious Service Awards and Medal, and many other recognitions. He is known largely for serving a community he dearly loved and his devoted volunteer work with Panoply, a local festival of the arts, even after retiring from the Huntsville Police Department.
He was together with his companion, wife, and caregiver; Susan Shahan, nearly 20 years, after meeting at a family Thanksgiving dinner in 2004. Together they raised his great nephew, Trent Shahan, whom he loved as his own. They shared a love for nature, and the simple things in life. He was an active member of Huntsville Park Baptist Church where they were Married, Mark and Trent were baptized, and they spent time serving the congregation. He was a devoted father to his daughter, Megan Ladner, whom most know as his pride and joy in life. He loved his son-in-law Andy Ladner and grandsons, Cameron, Jackson, and Landon, who he was so graciously able to meet before his passing.
Mark Shahan held many titles, known to most as “Shahan”. He was known for his quick wit, gift of useless knowledge, an impractical jokester, lover of all things nature, a pack-rat, dooms-day-prepper, traffic guru, flip phone fanatic, community servant, but first and foremost, a loving husband, father, and faithful servant to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Randall Ray Shahan; sister, Sharon Lee Kirby.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Susan Marie Lovejoy Shahan; great nephew, Trent Cavan Shahan; daughter, Megan Ladner and husband, Andy Ladner; grandsons, Cameron Ladner; Jackson Ladner and Landon Ladner; and a host of family and friends.
A celebration of life will be held at Huntsville Park Baptist Church on June 29th. Visitation starts at 1:00pm followed by a ceremony at 2:00pm, officiated by Pastor Mylon Metcalf. He will have Full Honors.