At 8:48pm on September 28, 2014, heaven received another angel. After battling for months to survive, my family and I had to say goodbye to my Dad. I love you so much and you may be gone but will never be forgotten. Fair winds and following seas Senior. ---Katelyn Hetrick

BMCS Mark Shawn Hetrick, 54, died surrounded by family on Sunday, September 28, 2014. Mark was born on November 21, 1959 and grew up in Plum Borough (Pittsburgh), PA. The oldest son of George Edward and Mary Lillian Hetrick and older brother to Quinn Bryan, Kevin Robert and Glenn Alan. Mark enlisted in the US Navy in 1980 and served honorably for 24 years. Always the "Sea Dog", Mark served on extended cruises to far reaching waters aboard the USS Suribachi, USS Butte, USS Platte, USS Seattle and USS Gunston Hall. His duty stations included Naval Weapons Station Earle, Naval Station Rota, Spain, Naval Station Norfolk and Naval Station Annapolis. Mark served in the Persian Gulf War, the Invasion of Grenada, Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield. Mark met his loving wife of 31 years, Jackie Lyn Giguere, when they both got news that Bruce Springsteen was making a surprise appearance at "The Stone Pony" in Asbury, NJ. Mark and Jackie eloped in the fall of 1983 and renewed their vows in the spring of 1985. Mark took his shore duty deployment in 1985 in Rota, Spain. It was in Rota that Mark and Jackie welcomed their first son, Craig Ryan, into the world on January 8, 1986 and their second son, Sean Andrew on October 6, 1987. Mark and his young family then came back to the states in 1988 and settled in to his next duty station at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck, New Jersey. It was there they were able to spend quality years with Jackie's parents Winfield "Giggs" Giguere and Jennie as well as Jackie's sisters Sheila, Jill, Wendy, Heidi and Amy. On August 29, 1989, Mark and Jackie welcomed their third, and youngest child, Katelyn Sarah. In the winter of 1993, Mark and Jackie moved their family to Arnold, MD and Mark took his next duty station at Naval Station Annapolis. It was here that Mark taught seamanship to the Midshipmen of the Naval Academy aboard the "Yard Patrol" or "YP's" at the naval station taking the Midshipmen from Annapolis to Nova Scotia. It was here that Mark made his retiring rate of Senior Chief Petty Officer. Mark's last 4 years of sea duty was spent on the USS Gunston Hall. After 4 years on the Gunston Hall, Mark took his final assignment, once again as "Craft Master" at Naval Station Annapolis. Mark loved hanging out with his dogs Ras Mataz Platte and Max Milo as well as fishing and seeing the local sites with his wife and family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George Edward Hetrick and Mary Lillian Hetrick.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Jackie Hetrick of Arnold; two sons, Craig Ryan Hetrick of Ocean City, MD, Sean Andrew Hetrick of Crofton, MD; and one daughter, Katelyn Sarah Hetrick. Also survived by his brothers, Quinn Bryan Hetrick of Apollo, PA, Kevin Robert Hetrick of Delmont, PA, and Glenn Alan Hetrick of Reisterstown, MD and survived by many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends may visit on Thursday, October 2, 2014 from 10:00 am -12:00 pm at Barranco & Sons, P.A. Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Hwy, in Severna Park, with a Funeral Service following at 12:00 pm, at the funeral home. Interment will be private.

Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com