Mark Curtis Ausmus, 65

Published 3:31 pm Monday, March 10, 2025

Mark Curtis Ausmus, 65, of Lawrenceville, Georgia passed away on February 27, 2025. Mark was born on November 22, 1959, in Middlesboro, Kentucky. He was a rambunctious child who explored the outdoors, bicycled everywhere as youngsters in that time did, and kept his mother on her toes. As a teenager, he enjoyed hiking in the Appalachian Mountains, boating and camping on Norris Lake, and practicing karate. He had a curious mind and was intrigued by the United States space exploration program in the 1960’s and 1970’s, groundbreaking shows like Star Trek, and newspaper accounts of UFO sightings. He graduated from Middlesboro High School in 1977. Mark was close with his family. Growing up he worked in this father’s jewelry store where he was schooled in the value of hard work, doing your best because the ring you were sizing meant a lot to someone, and a rich tradition of practical jokes and storytelling. He was very close to his mother throughout his life. Their phone calls were frequent and lasted for hours as they joked and he teased her, talked politics, and shared stories old and new. He was close to his three sisters and they talked frequently on the phone. He visited Tennessee often for birthday parties, family celebrations, vacations, and always attended the annual Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday gatherings. He kept up with his nieces and nephews and the marriages and births that came as they entered adulthood. Mark earned an Associate in Science for Engineering from Eastern Kentucky University in 1982 and transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia to pursue an engineering degree. While there he discovered programming on the Atari 400, which changed his career path from engineering to computer science. He wrote the game, Planet Killer, in Atari Macro Assembler in 1983 and was hooked. He left Georgia Institute of Technology before graduating to pursue opportunities in the computer field that included building and supporting networks for small businesses. He joined The Richard’s Group in 1987 and obtained the position of Senior Programmer Analyst before leaving in 1990. He then joined Johnson & Higgins of Georgia in 1990 and obtained the position of Senior Programmer before leaving in 1995. He joined SunTrust Bank (now Truist) in 1995 and held many positions before retiring on July 31, 2022. The last position he held was Salesforce Technical Lead, which reflected his talents for software development and leadership. Mark had a creative and inquiring mind and an understated sense of humor. His passions included music, photography, and Ufology. His encyclopedic knowledge of music often resulted in him playing a song, or part of a song, that perfectly fit the moment. He loved genres from old time country to foreign to current pop, and everything in between. He was in the zone when he was on his computer with the walls of his office vibrating with the music playing from the speakers. He will be remembered for being the family documentarian and recording life’s events with his camera and video recorder. His photography included vacations and trips, the night sky, celebrations big and small, and daily life. He left a rich repository of memories for those who love him. Mark had another family, a family of those dedicated to the scientific study of Unidentified Flying Objects (now referred to as Unidentified Aerial Phenomena). He was a student of Ufology. Mark’s interest in UFO’s was kindled by an experience his father had as a young man and fueled into a passion at age 13 after reading about a famous abduction case in the local newspaper. That was the start of his lifelong immersion in the subject. At the age of 15, he attended his first UFO conference in 1975 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. In 1976, at the age of 16, he attended the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) annual symposium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was a founding member of the International Society for UFO Research (ISUR) in 1996 and stayed active in it until it disbanded in 2001. ISUR created the first online UFO case database, which allowed the uploading of UFO case reports that were available for all to review online. It was the first of its kind. He was a long-time member of MUFON from 1991 until his passing and held several offices in the Georgia chapter including Field Investigator, Assistant State Director, and State Director. In addition, he published the state chapter’s newsletter, Georgia Sky Watch, from 1995 until 2001, and created the group’s website. Mark organized sky watches and chapter meetings for members and field investigators, and attended many MUFON symposia as well as many other meetings and conferences over the years. He made friends and contacts across the world and was greatly respected for his depth and breadth of knowledge on the topic. Over his lifetime, he curated an extensive library on the subject. He balanced his passion for ufology with a healthy skepticism and always saw definitive scientific evidence as the path forward. It was during his career at SunTrust that he met Lori Dawn Nelson, his life partner, in 1997. Their six-year friendship evolved into a deep love that lasted 22 years until his passing. They were best friends and had a connection and compatibility that is uncommon. They worked together (until Lori retired) and shared daily life and many adventures. She supported Mark as he pursued his heart’s desires. Mark’s intelligence, sense of humor and playfulness, and kindness nourished their relationship. Another significant member of Mark’s family was his beloved dog, Tillie. Although she passed many years ago, he still spoke of her fondly. Tillie was Mark’s biggest fan and faithful walking companion. He was her biggest fan and truly delighted in her companionship. Mark loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them. He enjoyed bringing people together. He always had interesting stories and jokes to tell. He kept up with birthdays and other milestones and stayed in touch with those in his life, including family, friends, coworkers, and members of the UFO community. He valued his friendships and was a great listener. His friendships included those with different political beliefs, religions, and life experiences. He was a kind and humble man who will be deeply missed. He is preceded in death by his father, Claude Curtis Ausmus; grandparents Kate Sluss Ausmus, Ira Curtis Ausmus, Rhoda Ann Miller Wylie, and Sterling Monroe Wylie. He is survived by his partner and love of his life, Lori Nelson of Lawrenceville GA; mother, Minnie Wylie Ausmus of Farragut TN; sisters Pamela Ausmus Clayton (Dwight) of Farragut TN, Sherri Ausmus Osborne (Dallas) of Farragut TN, and Angela Ausmus Gibson (Robert) of Knoxville TN; nieces and nephews, James Osborne, Shawnee Kate Joslin (Chase), Joseph Clayton (Callie), and Beth Ann Clayton; grandniece, Ava Clayton; and many cousins and other family members. A visitation to receive family and friends will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Arnett & Steele Valley Chapel, 6340 Cumberland Gap Pkwy, Harrogate, TN. This will be followed by a private burial at Kibert Cemetery in Arthur, TN. Please bring photos and stories to share as we remember and celebrate the life of our dear friend and loved one Mark.