Longtime educator Mark Hyder dies

Longtime educator and administrator Mark Hyder died of cancer Tuesday, March 24. He was 75.

Arrangements are under the direction of Macy & Son. A public rosary and funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., respectively, on Tuesday, April 7, at St. James Catholic Church, McMinnville. A reception will follow at Michelbook Country Club.

Born in McMinnville, Hyder graduated in 1968 from McMinnville High School, where he played varsity basketball and tennis and was student body president.

He graduated from Oregon State University and became a P.E. teacher at Yamhill Elementary School, at the time a different district feeding into Yamhill Carlton High. After earning a master’s degree, he became the superintendent/principal at Carlton Elementary School, also a separate district.

He joined the McMinnville School District and served as a middle school administrator, then an assistant principal at Mac High. He retired in 2012.

While assistant principal at Patton Middle School in the early 2000s, Hyder advocated for the return of a middle school sports program. He was instrumental in starting a middle school youth football program in 2002.

He was active in the McMinnville Elks Lodge, along with his father, Henry “Hank” Hyder, and his son Troy.

Hyder is survived by his wife, Sandy; three sons, Troy, Todd and Travis; and 11 grandchildren.