Mark Dufresne

Lt. Mark Dufrense, BCSO, (retired), 70 of Panama City, passed away May 31, 2020 at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, AL.

Mark was born June 7, 1949 in Waltham, Massachusetts to Joseph and Jean (Rosazza) Dufresne who preceded Mark in death.

Mark lived a life full of adventure...starting out as a child he travelled all across the US and Japan with his family in the Air Force, played football for Florida State University, , worked as a recovery scuba diver in Key West and finally settled down in Bay County to join the Sheriff’s Office and start a family… But his adventures did not end there.

Mark had a love for animals, telling extravagant stories, cooking, gardening, watching old western movies and spending time with his loved ones.
Mark served his Bay County community for over 35 years with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office having worked many facets of law enforcement. He was one of the first members of the Sheriff’s SWAT team, patrol officer, and retired as a Criminal Investigator in 2006. He later returned to the Bay County Jail as an Internal Investigator until his final retirement in 2017.

Mark is survived by his two daughters, Vanessa Maulden of Panama City, FL and Nicole (Isaac) Hanson of Tulsa, OK; his brothers, Richard (Victoria) Dufresne of Vernon, FL and Michael (Cheryl) Dufresne of Leavenworth, KS; his sister Debbie (Bruce) Dufresne of Jacksonville, FL; his grandchildren, Greyson and Gavin Maulden of Panama City, FL and Everett, Monroe and Odette Hanson of Tulsa, OK; his former wife, Dot Dufresne of Lynn Haven, FL and his special companion dog, Ginger.

Friends will be received June 22nd at Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home where a Memorial celebrating Mark’s life will be held that day at 5:00 p.m. Visitation will start at 4:00 pm.

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