"You don't have to be sad. Pa is in Heaven now. We will see him again."

The profound words of 4-year-old Layne Morris to his grieving family after the death of his beloved grandfather, Mark W. Middleton, on Jan. 9, 2012. Mark was a longtime Worley resident.

Mark was born Aug. 19, 1947, to Paul Alexander Middleton and Betty Naomi (Hickman) Laude in Spokane. He attended the Worley School District and later lived in Spokane where he graduated from Central Valley High School at the age of 16. He then attended North Idaho Junior College before he enlisted in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged following an injury in November 1967.

In 1979, Mark married Angela Dreyer and they made their home in the Worley area, where they raised three daughters.

Mark had many occupational ventures throughout his lifetime. He was active with the Young Adult Conservation Corp (YACC), owned and operated St. Joe Valley Machine Works and worked for Pacific Crown lumber mill in Plummer, as well as for the Worley Highway District.

Mark enjoyed hunting, fishing, spending time outdoors and playing music. He spent many evenings entertaining family and friends with both his humor and his guitar, while also finding peace and solace in his music.

He was preceded in death by his father, Paul Middleton and his stepmother, Bonnie Middleton.

He is survived by his mother, Betty Laude of Santa Clara, Calif.; former wife and friend Angela Middleton of Worley; siblings Tami Laude-Greene of Lake Oswego, Ore., Paula Weisbeck of Post Falls, William "Bill" Middleton of Plummer and Tim Middleton of Gardiner, Mont.; daughters Mindy Bowmer of Coeur d'Alene, Mariah Morris of Worley and Alexandria Middleton of Moscow; six grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial honoring Mark's life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, at Plummer Assembly of God church, 34 County Line Road, Plummer.