Obituary of Mark Lamar

September 9, 1947 – Eskisehir, Turkiye

August 11, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

Mark Lamar (Ahmet Erceis) beloved husband of Rebecca (nee Jainar) of Calgary, AB, passed away on Friday, August 11, 2023, at the age of 75 years.

Mark was born in Eskisehir, Turkiye on September 9, 1947.

He moved to Canada in 1974 and settled in Calgary, AB. Mark married Rebecca in 2014.

In 1971, he served in the Armed Forces as part of his mandatory service and was stationed in Mugla. Mark graduated from the University of Ankara with an undergraduate degree in Journalism. Mark enjoyed many activities and creating memories.  He was adventurous and liked to travel, visiting Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Chad, Egypt, Sudan, and the Philippines.  Perhaps the journalism education he received fueled his great curiosity and encouraged him to indulge in it.

Mark enjoyed driving his motorbike, shooting, mountain climbing and later in life, enjoyed singing karaoke.  His sister said that when Mark was young, he played a guitar that carried the words, “This is my life, I live how I want.”

Mark’s most memorable vacation was when he was in the city of Balikesir, Turkiye, spending good times together with his brother and sisters, nephews, and nieces.  The large family had fun together in a rented house for a month, venturing to the sea, eating together, and playing backgammon.

He will be most remembered for his kindness, respectfulness, and good heartedness. 

Through his final illness, he didn’t want to upset anyone.  He thought everything through in detail for his family and carefully planned everything.

Besides his loving wife Rebecca, Mark is survived by his one and only daughter Shania Lenis Lamar. Mark is also survived by his siblings, Nazli Buket Yordanli (Mehmet, deceased) of Canakkale, Turkiye; Mehmet Aydin (Melda) Erceis of Izmir, Turkiye, and Zinet Aylin (Haluk) Bultan of Izmir, Turkiye; nieces and nephews; Pinar (Tayyar) Kiziltan of Canakkale, Turkiye; Murat Kaan (Aylin) Yordanli of Balikesir, Turkiye,  Gurel (Cigdem) Erceis of London, UK, Poyzan (Melih) Bozkurt of Istanbul, Turkiye, and Simge (Cem) Topaloglu of Izmir, Turkiye, and Ece (Burak) Bilen of Izmir, Turkiye; great-nieces and great-nephews, Dilara of Ankara, Turkiye, Korhan of Germany, Melisa Su, Aylin, Tibet, Ural, Mila, and Can.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Mark’s family here.

In living memory of Mark Lamar, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Eastside, 5388 Memorial Drive NE, Calgary, AB T2A 3V9, Telephone: 403-248-8585.