The Rev. Mark Ferrier, 54, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 20, 2016, at University Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, surrounded by his loving family. Mark was the son of the Rev. Dr. William Ferrier and the late Jean Ferrier. He was the stepson of the Rev. Ruth Ferrier, and the brother of Calvin Ferrier (Lesley) of Timmins, Valerie Ferrier (David Clarke) of Thornhill., Andrew Ferrier (Tracy) of Timmins, and Jeffrey Ferrier (Joanna Carson) of Vancouver. Mark will be missed by his nieces and nephews Aria, Tara, Gavin, Willem, Tyler, Rhea, Lily, Astrid and Gus, by aunts and uncles Robert Ferrier (Joan), Jackie Christie (Andrew), Ben Gignac (Donna), Anna Jean Gignac (late Ted), Gail Boltz (late Gerry), Wayne Gignac (Rosalee) and John Gignac (Sandra), as well as his many friends and cousins.

Mark was a long-serving and respected minister in the United Church of Canada. He was the minister at St. Paul’s United Church in Tillsonburg, Ont. Since his ordination in 1988, Mark had also served the pastoral charges of Benito-Kenville, Man., Little Current, Ont., Westmeath, Ont., and Mount Forest, Ont. Over the years, his ministry of preaching, pastoral care, and social justice brought comfort and hope to the congregations and communities he served. Mark also actively participated in the various courts of the church. He was a member of London Conference, where he served on many conference and presbytery committees. He has also served as president of the Bay of Quinte Conference, chair of Renfrew Presbytery and Bruce Presbytery, and a delegate to three General Councils. After attending one General Council as a youth delegate, he returned home to help found Manitou Conference’s Youth Forum. Through it all, he held dear his fellowship with his many church colleagues and friends.

Throughout his life, Mark was actively involved in the community. He served as a town councilor in Little Current and hospital board member in Mount Forest. He loved to sing, and was an enthusiastic member of the Ingersoll Choir Society and Holstein Drama Group, and before that the Fergus Community Choir and Pembroke Community Choir. As a teenager, Mark was Premier of the Ontario Youth Parliament and a page in the Ontario Legislative Assembly when his father was a Member of Provincial Parliament – kindling an interest in politics that stayed with Mark throughout his life.

Mark was an avid learner. He attended Emmanuel College at the University of Toronto (Master of Divinity and co-winner of the Homiletics Prize), Carleton University (Bachelor of Arts in Political Science), and Timmins High and Vocational School, and made lifelong friendships with classmates that he cherished.

Mark loved to travel. As a divinity student, he completed his internship with the Presbyterian Church in Nyahururu, Kenya. Memorable journeys include trips to Israel, England, and Russia. Most recently, Mark discovered a love for cruise ship vacations, and made friends and wonderful memories on his trips to the Caribbean and the Gulf Coast.

Mark was also a great lover of animals. His three dogs – Rowan, Siska and Kiri – were great companions to Mark that brightened up his life and gave him great comfort and joy through his adult life.

The family will celebrate Mark’s life in Tillsonburg and Timmins.

In Tillsonburg, the family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 25, from 6 -8:30 p.m. at Ostrander’s Funeral Home, (519) 842-5221, 43 Bidwell Street, Tillsonburg, ON. A celebration of Mark’s life will be held on Thursday, May 26, at 11 a.m., at St. Paul’s United Church, 88 Bidwell Street. Officiating will be Mark’s dear friend the Rev. Mary-Jo Eckert-Tracy. A reception will follow at the church.

In Timmins, the family will receive friends on Friday, May 27, from 7 – 9 p.m., at Lessard-Stephens Funeral Home, 21 Elm Street South. A celebration of Mark’s life will be held on Saturday, May 28, at 11 a.m., at Covenant United Church, 230 Eighth Avenue, with the Rev. Mary Jo Eckert-Tracy officiating. A reception will follow at the church. A private interment will take place at Timmins Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a charitable donation to the Canadian Liver Foundation or the Mission and Service Fund of the United Church of Canada.