Mark Tullius Lasswell, 70, formerly of Taylorville, IL, passed away peacefully on December 12, 2023, with his daughter by his side.

He was born May 28, 1953, In Evanston, IL, the son of Yolande Vandeveer Perkins (Oglesby) and Roy Lasswell. 

Mark spent most of his youth in the Taylorville area before attending Culver Military Academy in Indiana. During these formative years, he spent summers driving cattle on the open ranges of Wyoming where he developed an inquisitive mind for agricultural studies.

Mark attended his final year of high school in the suburban Chicago area ahead of enrolling at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He graduated from the U of I in 1975 with a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy. 

Following graduation, Mark briefly worked for the Chicago Board of Trade before moving back to his hometown of Taylorville and starting a small business, Marx Paint, Body and Equipment. He operated this after-market vehicle part distribution business out of Taylorville for more than 30 years.

It was in Taylorville that Mark would meet his future wife, Marylee Cooper. They married on September 19, 1981, and had three children: Andrew, Owen, and Nancy. Mark and Marylee were married for over 25 years. 

Those closest to Mark knew him as a fiercely loyal friend with a charming and engaging personality. He was a free-thinker, a seeker of wisdom, and a philosopher of the highest discernment. Mark was an exquisite downhill skier and a natural athlete. He had a passion for music, and he loved dogs. Mark deeply loved his friends and family, and in his latter years, he found immense joy in watching his two young granddaughters play.

He is survived by his three children: Nancy (Michael) Brooks, Owen (Jennifer) Lasswell, and Andrew Lasswell; two grandchildren: Lucy Brooks and June Brooks; a sister, Yolande Knight; and a brother, Clark Lasswell. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Richard Oglesby. 

A private burial and service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. www.TheAFTD.Org

The family has entrusted Shafer-Perfetti & Assalley Funeral Home in Taylorville with ceremonies.

Please visit www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com to share memories of Mark, or to offer condolences to his family.