Mark Hammonds also known as "Marky-Mark", 55, of Burden, Kansas, passed away Thursday evening, February 10, 2022, at his mother's home.

Mark was born on April 20, 1966, in McAlester, Oklahoma.  He was the son of James and Betty Kaats.  Mark was raised in Crowder, Oklahoma, before moving with his family to Burden, Kansas, at the age of nine.  He finished his education in Burden, graduating from Burden High School in 1984.

He was always known to work hard.  At the young age of eight is when Mark began working by catching and selling perch for five cents each.  He followed that with delivering newspapers and hauling wood on his bicycle to sell to campers.  As an adult, Mark worked in the water department with the city of Burden.  His other jobs included being a carpenter, driving trucks all over, operating heavy machinery, and running his own business in which he built large trailers.

Mark was a member of the Burden United Methodist Church and always made time to attend Bluegrass each year.  He loved going to the sand dunes nearly every weekend with his friends and parents in Wanaka, Oklahoma.  Mark built his own dune buggy which he painted green and named "Frog."  He enjoyed bull riding in rodeos and fishing with his friends.  Mark often went to Missouri to trout fish.  There was nothing better than finishing the night off with a big fish fry.  He also liked deer hunting, though he never shot anything but a picture of the deer with his camera.

In Mark's last few years, he took up a new hobby of sewing.  He was able to make dozens of pajamas, some he kept and others he gave away.  Mark's very last project was a beautiful quilt which he gave to his mother.

Mark's family includes his mother, Betty Kaats; brother, Douglas Hammonds; sister, Susan Kaats; three nephews, Casey, Taylor, and Cody; one niece, Dione; and his companion dog, Ditch.

He is preceded in death by his father, James, and an aunt, Mary Sue.

A private celebration of life will be held at a later date.  Arrangements are under the direction of Miles Funeral Service.

A memorial has been established in Mark's name to help defray funeral expenses. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.