On September 14, 2026, Mark Bennett, surrounded by the love of his immediate family and of those near and far, left his earthly vessel behind to chart a course for those endless seas beyond the sunset.

Mark was born on March 14, 1953, next to the ocean on the island of Bermuda. He was the second of three sons of Elizabeth Gwen Whyte (a Canadian nurse) and M/Sgt. Tommy Jewell Bennett (a U.S. Air Force flight engineer). After the tragic death of Mark’s father, Gwen relocated to Bellingham, WA and found work at St. Joseph’s Hospital. This decision placed Mark in proximity to Whatcom County’s fishing industry and set him down the path to becoming one of the region’s expert boat builders.

Mark went to Parkview Elementary, Whatcom Middle School, and Bellingham High, graduating in 1971, alongside lifelong best friend, Forest Metcalfe. In 1970, Gwen married a U.S. Forest Serviceman, George Buckner, who brought Mark along on adventures down Mt. Baker logging roads. He attended Skagit Valley College and was introduced to welding. His early working years were at the Fairhaven shipyard, local fabrication shops and in the fishing industry in gillnetting and purse seining in Bellingham and Alaska. Eventually, he established his own company, Master Marine Products.

His understanding of fishing gave him a unique perspective on how aluminum boats should be made. Mark designed and manufactured more than 300 boats and skiffs; some were used locally, in Alaska, and up and down the West Coast, and others were commissioned for the Coast Guard. His favorite project was not an original design, but rather a seine skiff he widened, lengthened and improved; a testament to his humility. His final design, a boat built for his son, can be seen frequently in the Salish Sea, filled with his children, grandchildren, and friends.

Mark’s life was anchored to two constant ports. The first was his mother Gwen, and the second was the love of his life, his wife and soulmate, Shirley (Ellenz) Bennett, to whom he was married for 51 years. Together Mark and Shirley built a family, numerous businesses, and choreographed legendary crab cookouts and salmon BBQs. Mark was an accomplished grill master who stood by his home crafted sauces and ‘low and slow’ methods with fantastic results.

In addition to grilling, Mark had many different pursuits, from experimental botany as a young man, to fishing, duck and pheasant hunting, woodworking, vintage motorcycle restoration, model boat building, armchair history, and in recent months, rockhounding. Not only a craftsman of objects, ‘Gramps’ or ‘Pops’ as some called him, was also a spectacular storyteller, who could sit for hours with his grandchildren spooling off adventure tales with detailed characters in foreign places. When he raised his eyebrows and opened his eyes wide you knew something was coming, but you didn’t know what until he hit you with it. Those who had the pleasure of sharing happy hour with Mark knew they would leave the experience with laugh lines made just a bit deeper by his tales.

Mark developed COPD from a career of welding and battled it with great courage for 13 years. Even in the closing days of his life, he joked and entertained with his signature sense of humor. Mark is survived by his wife Shirley, children Holly Maulhardt (Ian Maulhardt), Brett Bennett (Athena Kandrnal), and Karena Bennett (Josh Haupt); his grandchildren Wyatt and Simone Maulhardt, Nora Haupt, and Mia and Isaac Bennett; and his brothers Mike (Carolyn) Bennett and Matt (Carrie) Bennett and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews. Mark was preceded in death by his parents and a multitude of dear friends and relatives, as well as a series of beloved companions including: Chesapeakes Shannon and Jazz; Ike the Pointer; Gracie the Gentle Giant; the Beautiful Sophie; and his Forever Partner in Crime, Gus the long-legged Jack Russell.

Mark was of the ilk that Hemingway wrote, and Buffett crooned and both would have enjoyed a cocktail with him. He had the soul of a sailor and the heart of a poet. Mark always gave more than he took. More love, more laughter, more support, more inspiration, and more beauty. We will all miss him tremendously.

A Celebration of Mark’s Life will be held at a later date. Donations in Mark’s honor can be made to the Whatcom Maritime Heritage Museum at 817 Harris Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225 or online at https://www.whatcommaritime.org/