Ralph Mark Gorringe of Boise, Idaho passed away peacefully at home of natural causes on December 19, 2020. He was surrounded by family and was 81 years old. He was known affectionately as “R. Mark,” and although he was technically born in Burley, Idaho, he was an Oakley boy at heart. He was born on May 19, 1939 to Ralph and Lorraine Gorringe. He would later be joined by a sister and three brothers. From an early age he enjoyed athletics, with baseball being his lifelong favorite. At Oakley High School he ran track, played football and basketball and would not pass up an opportunity to remind you that he was “Mr. OHS” his junior year. He wrote articles for the high school and the local town paper, keeping students and residents apprised of the local box scores. He graduated from Oakley High School in 1957. He went to Idaho State University the next fall and then served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Great Lakes Mission from 1959 to 1961. On January 11, 1962 he married Nadine Bair, to whom he remained a faithful husband until his passing, just shy of their 59th anniversary. In 1965 he graduated from ISU with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. He started his professional career as an elementary school teacher and taught for 15 years. He began his teaching career in Pocatello and then he and his bride moved to Boise in 1965. He later pursued other careers in business, working for food brokerages. Later in life, when he semi-retired, he enjoyed a job as a patient transporter at St. Al’s hospital, making quick friends with staff members and every patient he encountered. Throughout his life he enjoyed service through church activity and always made himself available to bless those around him. He had many callings that allowed him to serve the Lord and his fellow man. He served in multiple bishoprics, and served as bishop in the Boise 25th Ward, beginning in 1972, and as a counselor in the Boise East Stake presidency beginning in 1980. Mark’s interests were Church history, local sports, making connections to his hometown of Oakley and ice cream. He enjoyed keeping up on local sports teams and keeping anyone around him informed of the latest game, but especially when they involved his own children or grandchildren. After he retired, he and Nadine served a mission together and were called to the Canada Halifax Mission. They served from October 2007 to October 2008. At age 70 Mark had the amazing opportunity to travel to six different ballparks in seven days, attending professional baseball games with his daughter and son-in-law.
Mark is survived by his wife Nadine and his six children, Leisa Gorringe (Deb) of Lawrenceville, GA, Janice Gropp (Joe) of Boise, Connie Black (Jason) of Meridian, Alan Gorringe of Boise, Annie Bowen (Jake) of Springfield, VA and Ryan Gorringe (Rachel) of Boise; and his grandchildren Garrett (Amanda) and Avery Gorringe; Jarom, Jacob, Joshua, Jordan and Jensine Gropp; Jaden Black; Simon, Grace and Noah Gorringe; Tate and Reagan Bowen; and Claire and Amelia Gorringe; and his siblings, Jane Dishman (Bill), Kelly Gorringe (Becca) and Brendon Gorringe (Lisa).
He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Ralph and Lorraine Gorringe, and his brother Max.
A private family memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at Relyea Funeral Chapel. The service will be live-streamed and recorded for friends and extended family.