COLUMBIA, S.C. – Mark Homer Corley, 57, died November 15, 2012 after years of suffering from primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Graveside services will be held Sunday, November 18, 2012 at 2 PM at Greenlawn Memorial Park, with visitation following at the graveside. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.

Mark was the son of the late Raymond Wilson Corley and the late Frances Mae Winn Corley of Edgefield County and step-son of the late Ruth Bodie Freeman Corley.

Mark was born December 19, 1954. He graduated from Strom Thurmond High School in Edgefield County and received his Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, in Agronomy from Clemson University in 1977.

He was Director of Land Resources Planning with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources/Land Resources Commission from 1977 until his retirement in 2003. He received an award in agronomy from Clemson University. He was a national member of the Soil and Water Conservation Society. He edited numerous professional scientific papers on land use.

He was an active volunteer and board member of the Animal Protection League of SC. He was a member of Columbia Lions Club and Gilgal Baptist Church in Edgefield County.

He is survived by his wife Debra “Debbie” Sanders Corley and their four-legged children, sister Sandra Corley Mitchell and husband William K. “Bill” Mitchell, brothers-in law Andrew Dick Sanders and wife Annette Sanders, Marion Ronald “Ron” Sanders and his wife Mary Christine “Tina” Sanders, nephews James A. “Jamie” Sanders and his wife Suzanne Sanders, all of Columbia; Ronald “Ron” Sanders, Jr., and his wife Candace Sanders of Chapin, niece Patricia “Tricia” Heen and her husband Andrew W. “Andy” Heen of Lexington, great-nieces and nephews, and step-brother Fred B. Freeman and his wife Anne Pace Freeman of Edgefield. He was predeceased by his parents-in-law James A. and Marion G. Sanders of Columbia and step-brother Harry L. Freeman of Edgefield.

Thanks to Dr. Leslie Stuck for her love, devotion, and caring throughout his lengthy illness and to her partners and staff of Columbia Medical Associates. Thanks to Linda Shumard, RN, with DHEC Home Health Services, Joy Harley, RT, with Long’s Home Medical Services, and Kim Baggott, RN, case manager with Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Animal Protection League of SC, P.O. Box 5354, Columbia, SC 29250, or to the charity of one’s choice.