Mark was born March 8, 1971, in San Diego, California. His parents, Raymond and Marianne Spencer, tried to have a third child for seven years and were finally blessed to adopt Mark at the age of 3 months.
Mark is survived by his parents, his brother Randall David Spencer and his sister Christine Spencer Williams.
Mark was always a happy, active child. During his pre-adolescent years, his parents had to put a rope around the frig, tie the chairs to the table, and watch him like a hawk. One day, his mother found him happily painting the wall and the piano with a paint roller. He knew no fear and at the age of 10 jumped off a 15-foot-high diving board.
They lived for 18 years in Escondido, California, and then moved to Lemoore, California, for two years where Mark successfully burned a small hole in the roof from the attic. The firemen were very kind and tried to teach him the dangers of uncontrolled fire. On a trip to see his grandparents, he chased a ball into the street where a car hit him and broke his collarbone.
When the family moved to Brawley, California, he played linebacker for the Brawley High School junior varsity football team. In high school, he excelled in wrestling, beating a highly touted older boy in a demonstration match. In a later match, his shoulder was dislocated. At home, he nearly lost a finger on the table saw. He also had to have knee surgery around this time.
Mark was married for a short time to Carrie Elmore of Brawley where they had their only child, Tobi. Later he married Brenda Mast. They enjoyed riding motorcycles to various events including Sturgis.
Mark left home for 10 years to find his way in the world by working in Park. Later, he worked hard to finally receive his high school diploma.
Upon returning to the real world, Mark started driving long-haul trucks, mostly with Pride Trucking where he received a certificate of recognition for driving over 1 million miles. Later he switched to being a sou-chef and then executive chef in Park City. He also did chef work in ski resorts at Lake Tahoe and Vale, Colorado.
While in Colorado Mark got an infection in is arm causing the surgeon to open his arm from shoulder to wrist to clean out the sepsis infection. At this point, he could no longer work due to his increasing diabetes, so he moved into his parents’ home in St George, Utah, for 18 months.
Mark was very witty, intelligent, creative and generous. While in St George, he bought and installed a decorative windmill and giant chimes to recognize his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary and replaced all the ceiling fans in the house. He also figured out how to repair cars and install technical gadgets in the home. He enjoyed playing cards with his parents. A highlight of his life was when he received Ellie, a Great Dane puppy who slept with him every night for the last 1½ years of Mark’s life.
Mark didn’t do much talking but he loved and appreciated his family and friends and did many kind acts of service. He was never heard to say anything derogatory about anyone and was deeply loved.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, Aug. 17, at 10 a.m. Tonaquint Cemetery 1777 S Dixie Drive, St. George. Mark Passed away peacefully Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.
Arrangements are under the care of Pine View Mortuary, 435-986-4222. Click here to visit the Pine View Mortuary website for full obituary and funeral service listing.