Mark Wallace

Mark E. Wallace, 73, died June 6, 2026, at the Marshwood Center nursing home in Lewiston, Maine.

Mark grew up in Brunswick as part of a large family, leaving school early to help his family financially. Mark was married twice and divorced twice; he had no children.

Much of Mark’s working life was spent at R.A. Webber & Sons, of Cundy’s Harbor. He did many types of jobs there, from running heavy equipment to blasting holes for utility poles. Mark learned most of his amazing skills by watching others. He was so skilled with an excavator that it has been said he could pick up an egg without cracking it. Day laborers liked working on Mark’s jobs because he could work so neatly that there was not much digging or raking left to do.

For many years, Mark plowed Route 123 on Harpswell Neck. In the early years, Mark’s plow truck was only two-wheel drive! When other plow drivers got stuck, it was often Mark’s job to pull them out so they could get back to plowing before too much snow came down.

Later in life, Mark moved over to running the back end of the “dump.” Some people may not like that word, but that was what he called it. While there, he taught several new employees how to run the loader/backhoe. Most of them were scared at first, but he would set the machine somewhere safe and gently teach them how to use it properly.

While working at the transfer station, Mark decided to run for Harpswell selectman. He was well known by the fishing community and won the race easily. Someone in the town challenged the legality of a town employee being on the Select Board. A court ruled that it was fine to do all the regular work of a selectman, except for voting on the pay package for the transfer station. Mark served a three-year term with distinction.

Mark’s other connection to Harpswell was a family piece of land on Little Yarmouth Island. He loved launching his boat from Bethel Point and cruising around Quahog Bay. On the island he had a modest camp. It’s possible he had rescued some windows and other building supplies from the scrap pile to add on to the old island structure.

Mark was full of jokes and loved by many people. Mark loved his dogs; his last one was an Australian shepherd named Rosie. He spent his final years with his chosen family: Melissa Williams and her two daughters, Layla and Avery, and his lifelong friend, Warren Graybill. Melissa dedicated many years to caring for Mark and making sure he was never alone, all the way to the end, or till his last breath.

A celebration of life for Mark will be held on Sunday, July 12, at 1 p.m. at the Bailey Island Union Church. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mark’s memory can be sent to Midcoast Humane, 5 Industrial Parkway, Brunswick, ME 04011.