Mark Wayne Havnes

Mark Wayne Havnes, age 65, died October 25, 2019.

He passed of natural causes in Cedar City, Utah.

Born June 3, 1954 in Salt Lake City to Ellsworth B. Havnes and Nancy Havnes Wallace. Attended East High School and the University of Utah. He married BoTerre Sans Metcalf in 1985. He and Sans shared 17 years together in Salt Lake City.

Mark was an award winning newspaper editor and journalist. He worked for the Salt Lake Tribune for 33 years. He started as a newsroom clerk (copy boy) on February 15, 1979 and worked until May 8, 2012. During that time he served as a reporter and editor. For several years he was the regional editor and managed a team of correspondents around the state. His last job was running the Salt Lake Tribune Southern Utah bureau, reporting stories across the southern part of the state. During his career he received numerous awards for his investigative reporting. He was presented the 30 Year Salt Lake Tribune Service Award inscribed with “You paint vivid pictures of life among red rocks.”

Mark loved beautiful poetry, classical literature, gourmet food, and music. His passion was writing creative stories from his imagination.   He was an accomplished fly fisherman. He spent many summers at his family’s lakefront cabin on Fremont Lake in Wyoming, trolling on sunny afternoons with his brother Michael, throwing a bobber off  the dock, and fishing from the shores of the surrounding rivers. He was a fabulous conversationalist and enjoyed many a debate with his family and friends on the deck of the cabin. He was water soaked many times by his daughter spraying him with her uncle Carly’s boat. He always brought his sister Lisa flowers for the cabin porch. There was never a dull moment when Mark was around. He always displayed a wit and charm that all who knew him appreciated. He loved his many friends and family and will be dearly missed by all.

He is survived by his daughter Kerbe Boterre Havnes of Salt Lake City; his sister Lisa Carlson (Tom), Park City, Utah; his brother Michael, Salt Lake City; his niece Carly Jane Corlett (Ryan); his aunt Ann Huish Stewart, Mesquite; and many cousins. Preceded in death by his mother Nancy Havnes Wallace, his father Ellsworth B. Havnes, q and his uncle John Huish.

A celebration of life will be held during the Christmas holidays.