Loading...
Mark Bales Reary
June 06, 2025
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mark Bales Reary, a beloved friend, cherished family member, local historian and storyteller, who left this world on April 9, 2025, at the age of 70.
Mark was a man who never met a stranger and never wasted a good story. Whether seated around a campfire, gathered at the kitchen table, or at a diner in town, Mark could turn even the most ordinary moment into a tale worth remembering. His words had a way of making people laugh, think, and remember the past—and his stories will continue to echo in the memories of all who knew him.
Born on Feb. 14, 1955 and raised in Eminence, MO, Mark devoted much of his life to collecting, preserving, and sharing the stories of the place he called home. Whether recounting childhood misadventures and pranks with cousin Leroy Orchard on the Current River, the drama of volunteer fire fighting, or the wild days of open range ranching, he brought history to life with warmth, curiosity, and humor. His voice was a bridge between generations—a living archive of the everyday events and small, remarkable moments that make up the history of a community.
He was a familiar presence at town gatherings, the Senior Center, Alley Spring mill, and the Shannon County Museum, where he volunteered his time to ensure that the next generation would know the stories that shaped their surroundings. Many locals can recall listening to Mark speak, their own family names and hometown landmarks woven into tales that made them feel both proud and connected to the Ozarks.
Mark was raised with a love for the land and its stories. His grandfather Walter Bales founded Bales Boating Company in 1927 and his mother Shannon ran it after Walter’s death for a year, before grandmother Florice Bales took over operations from 1951 to 1964. Mark’s father Bill bought a filling station in 1950 and became an independent dealer for Standard Oil Company. Mark worked there until they sold it in 1978, providing full service by filling people’s gas tanks, checking their tires, and hearing all the town news. He was always good for a quick chat – or a long one, if you had the time.
He could recite every road’s original name and who used to live on it, tell you about Buck Nelson’s alien encounter in Howell County, and trace your family back two generations before you even sat down. But it wasn’t just what he knew—it was how he told it. He had a voice like a front porch swing: steady and soothing, with a rhythm and warm drawl that told you he was born and bred in Shannon County.
Mark worked for 42 years as a trucker, first delivering lime to farmers’ fields and gravel for construction projects locally, and then doing long-haul trucking for Opal DePriest’s trucking company in Birch Tree. He traversed the country countless times and knew so many backcountry roads and detours, it was hard to stump him. Always curious, Mark would ask visitors at the Shannon County Museum where they were from. If they answered that it was a small town that nobody had heard of, Mark would just smile and say, “Try me.” Almost always, he not only knew of the town, but could confirm where you could get the best pie there.
Mark is survived by his partner, Patricia Williams; sister-in law Melinda Reary of Hot Springs, SD; nephews Brendan Reary of Hot Springs, SD and Gavin Reary of Lincoln, NE; along with many other relatives, friends, neighbors, and fellow history lovers.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph “Bill” Reary and Shannon (Bales) Reary of Eminence, MO, his sister, Irma Plantz, and brother Brent Reary, of Rolla, MO.
A public celebration of Mark’s life will be held on June 14, 2025 from 2 – 4 PM at the Shannon County Museum, where friends and family are invited to share their favorite stories and memories in tribute to the man who gave so many the gift of his voice. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Shannon County Museum or simply sit down with someone older than you and ask them to tell you a story. That was always Mark’s favorite way to spend the day.
Mark Reary gave our community the gift of its own story— told with care, heart, and a twinkle in the eye. He will be deeply missed and long remembered.
Mark was a man who never met a stranger and never wasted a good story. Whether seated around a campfire, gathered at the kitchen table, or at a diner in town, Mark could turn even the most ordinary moment into a tale worth remembering. His words had a way of making people laugh, think, and remember the past—and his stories will continue to echo in the memories of all who knew him.
Born on Feb. 14, 1955 and raised in Eminence, MO, Mark devoted much of his life to collecting, preserving, and sharing the stories of the place he called home. Whether recounting childhood misadventures and pranks with cousin Leroy Orchard on the Current River, the drama of volunteer fire fighting, or the wild days of open range ranching, he brought history to life with warmth, curiosity, and humor. His voice was a bridge between generations—a living archive of the everyday events and small, remarkable moments that make up the history of a community.
He was a familiar presence at town gatherings, the Senior Center, Alley Spring mill, and the Shannon County Museum, where he volunteered his time to ensure that the next generation would know the stories that shaped their surroundings. Many locals can recall listening to Mark speak, their own family names and hometown landmarks woven into tales that made them feel both proud and connected to the Ozarks.
Mark was raised with a love for the land and its stories. His grandfather Walter Bales founded Bales Boating Company in 1927 and his mother Shannon ran it after Walter’s death for a year, before grandmother Florice Bales took over operations from 1951 to 1964. Mark’s father Bill bought a filling station in 1950 and became an independent dealer for Standard Oil Company. Mark worked there until they sold it in 1978, providing full service by filling people’s gas tanks, checking their tires, and hearing all the town news. He was always good for a quick chat – or a long one, if you had the time.
He could recite every road’s original name and who used to live on it, tell you about Buck Nelson’s alien encounter in Howell County, and trace your family back two generations before you even sat down. But it wasn’t just what he knew—it was how he told it. He had a voice like a front porch swing: steady and soothing, with a rhythm and warm drawl that told you he was born and bred in Shannon County.
Mark worked for 42 years as a trucker, first delivering lime to farmers’ fields and gravel for construction projects locally, and then doing long-haul trucking for Opal DePriest’s trucking company in Birch Tree. He traversed the country countless times and knew so many backcountry roads and detours, it was hard to stump him. Always curious, Mark would ask visitors at the Shannon County Museum where they were from. If they answered that it was a small town that nobody had heard of, Mark would just smile and say, “Try me.” Almost always, he not only knew of the town, but could confirm where you could get the best pie there.
Mark is survived by his partner, Patricia Williams; sister-in law Melinda Reary of Hot Springs, SD; nephews Brendan Reary of Hot Springs, SD and Gavin Reary of Lincoln, NE; along with many other relatives, friends, neighbors, and fellow history lovers.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph “Bill” Reary and Shannon (Bales) Reary of Eminence, MO, his sister, Irma Plantz, and brother Brent Reary, of Rolla, MO.
A public celebration of Mark’s life will be held on June 14, 2025 from 2 – 4 PM at the Shannon County Museum, where friends and family are invited to share their favorite stories and memories in tribute to the man who gave so many the gift of his voice. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Shannon County Museum or simply sit down with someone older than you and ask them to tell you a story. That was always Mark’s favorite way to spend the day.
Mark Reary gave our community the gift of its own story— told with care, heart, and a twinkle in the eye. He will be deeply missed and long remembered.
A healthy Shannon County requires great community news.
Please support The Current Wave by subscribing today!
Please support The Current Wave by subscribing today!
