Marcus Damon Gaddis passed away Tuesday, January 7, 2024, in Dothan, AL at age 79. He was born in 1945 and grew up in Columbia, MS, with his parents, Roy and Hazel Gaddis, brothers, Roy Jr. and Charles, and sisters, Cassandra (Dillon), Valerie (McCluskey) and Lisa. Marcus attended Columbia and Nichols (New Orleans, LA) High Schools and graduated in 1963. He served in the U.S. Army (1965-1972), became an accomplished fixed wing and helicopter pilot, and he served two tours in Vietnam. In 1972 he retired as aU.S. Army Captain from the Bluegrass Army Depot in Lexington, KY.  He worked as a builder in Lexington for many years and he earned degrees from the University of Kentucky, including a B.S. in 1980, a M.B.A. in 1981, and a D.B.A. in Accounting in 1993. Mark worked as a professor of Accounting and Financefor more than 30 years, finally retiring in 2023.  He is survived by his sisters, Valerie (Fairhope, AL) and Lisa(James Tyburczy, Flagstaff, AZ), her children Katherine and Thomas, his niece Sandy Dillon Loper and his grandnephew Henry Loper (both in Pascagoula, MS). Other survivors were his extended families, including Amanda Burgess (Baton Rouge, LA) and her son Brooks and daughter Helen, and Millie Ballagh(David Ballagh; Leesville, LA) and son Joshua. Mark’sfavorite activities included beekeeping, reading, building (he was a godsend in Pascagoula after Katrina!), renovating the Memorial Building in Paris, KY, watching University of Kentucky and other team basketball, and spending time with his widespread family and friends. Mark had a strong faith and he was a generous and beloved teacher, sharing his knowledge and advice widely among his students and friends, and supporting numerous good causes. He will be greatly missed by all that knew him. Marcus will be laid to rest on March 29, 2025 in Columbia with his longtime love, Mary Carolyn Stephens.