Mark Clark Christian

Mark Clark Christian was born June 6, 1947 to Donald E. Christian (d.) and Jean L. Christian (Clark) (d.) in Piqua, OH. He died in Rio Rancho, NM at the age of 77 after a horrific battle with dementia. Mark was a loving and kind son, brother, husband, dad and grandpa. He carried the weight of being the oldest son and did a great job of taking care of six sisters and two brothers. He graduated Manzano High School in May of 1966, and was awarded a scholarship to play football at Eastern New Mexico University. Mark always stayed in touch with his best high school friends 'the Great Eight', who loved and supported him until the end.

Mark was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam war as a helicopter mechanic, but went on to enlist so he could instead become a pilot and a Warrant Officer. He was proud to become a Helicopter Pilot and fly Hueys in the F Troop, 8th Cavalry, also known as the Blue Ghosts. Mark flew many combat missions in Vietnam, and was shot down twice (earning him numerous medals including the Air Medal and the Purple Heart which accompanied the prominent scar on his face).

After being honorably discharged, Mark became a milkman for one day, but felt it was “too dangerous” to go into strange people’s homes, so instead he followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Albuquerque Police Department in 1971. He worked as a patrolman, was an excellent training officer and mentor, served as a detective on the Vice Squad, and was one of the original officers in the Chaplain's Unit, "The God Squad.” Mark started APD’s Domestic Violence Response Team (DART) which was a passion project that took him down a road where he helped those suffering the trauma of domestic violence throughout the state of New Mexico. While working at APD, Mark finished his Bachelor's in Criminology and then obtained his Master's Degree in Counseling. After retiring from APD in 1991, he started a counseling firm specializing in helping Domestic Violence Offenders learn new coping skills. After a few years of counseling, he retired again and took many naps and caught many fish.

Mark was a terrific dad and grandpa who taught his grandsons how to bait a hook and the difference between fishing and catching. He was very patient and kind to everyone, and his caregivers at Rio Rancho BeeHive Memory Care and Gentiva Hospice showed much fondness toward him because of his sweet and gentle spirit.

Mark is survived by his devoted daughter Candi Shinaberry (Mike), sisters Marcia Goettemoeller, Gail Kraenzel (John), Donna Chee (Richard), Anne Blythe (Lee), Kelly Crollett, Lori Zubia (Mario), grandsons Jason and Joshua Shinaberry, and numerous nieces and nephews. Mark was predeceased by his son, Andy Christian, and his brother Matthew Christian who surely met him at Heaven’s gate.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to fight dementia or perhaps to another charity of your choice in his honor.