Mark Harris Workman's Obituary
Mark Harris Workman departed from this life on one/one 2024 at age 73. He leaves behind 1 wife, 1 daughter, 1 sister, 1 dog, 2 sons, 2 brothers, 3 Nissans, 6 cases of SPAM, 6 grandkids, 793 FaceBook friends, 52,145 photos on his phone, 110,136 views of his prayer, more friends than can be counted, and a house full of paintings. Mark was a number man, an accountant. Mark was welcomed into the world by Merlin Horne Workman and Doris Roe Koger on April 4, 1950 in Delta, Utah, where he spent the first four years of his life. His family then moved to Baytown. Texas, where he lived until he graduated from Sterling High School. He remembered the year that they first integrated his school. Mark loved his time in Texas and had that Southern hospitality all his life. He especially remembered working at the Village Inn pizza parlor and dragging Texas Avenue with a variety of cars, his favorite being a 1968 Pontiac. Mark was a car guy and fondly remembers every car. After high school, he joined the Navy and had many Navy stories—some of them were even true! After the Navy he spent some time in Utah where his parents had relocated. While there, he and some friends to decided to have a California adventure selling smiley-faced car air fresheners, hoping to get rich but returned to Utah with a fist full of bills. Mark decided to pursue an education and enrolled at the U. While working and attending school, his sister RaeAnn decided to introduce Mark to a newly single mother of one, Connie Beth. After a whorl wind courtship of 17 days, RaeAnn suggested to Mark to elope with Connie to Elko, Nevada on February 2nd, 1974. For some reason, Connie agreed. Mark and Connie lived in many places. They moved to Brigham City with son Ryan while Mark finished his degree in accounting at Weber State. There they added two more children, Trace and Tanille, before moving to Richmond, Utah where they welcomed another daughter, Melissa. They lived there for 18 years and raised their four children in an old home with a wood burning stove fueled by scrap wood from the La-Z-Boy factory where Mark was the controller. Richmond is where Mark learned to garden and to grill. His “grillers” became legendary! Mark also met Greg Sievers, an artist, and became an avid fan and collector of great art. The
family made life-long friends who supported them through the tragic loss of their Melissa. After Trace and Tanille graduated from high school, the family relocated to Davis County, mainly to live close to Barbara Ann, his favorite cousin, and her husband Henry. Mark and Connie settled in Layton and added to their collection of wonderful friends. Their yard is a shady one so Mark cultivated a 125-foot garden in Jared Brown’s sunny parking strip. He enjoyed sharing the produce he grew with the neighbors but also included flowers and herb for aesthetics. Mark and Connie loved their neighborhood so much that Mark convinced his son Trace and bother-in-law Nolan to move to “the hood.” Living close together allowed many joyous celebrations. Of course, Mark continued the “grillers,” creating glorious memories. Mark was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was sealed to Connie in the Manti Temple in 1975. He served in several positions. He loved being part of the scouting program, especially when Trace was a scout. But his favorite calling was in the Elder Quorum in Richmond, Utah. Mark’s bother Myron lured Mark to the beautiful shores of Bear Lake where Mark spent many days enjoying the beauty of the lake and taking thousands of photos, which he shared on his beloved FaceBook. His photos were art and he gained quite the following. Mark also loved to eat and regularly took picture of his meals to post. Mark treasured his days at the lake. The world will miss Mark. FaceBook might collapse. Café Sabor might fold. Quirkyworky@hotmail will fade away. He spent his life collecting friends and paintings. His dog Kimo will continue looking for his buddy. Farewell to the most unique man on the planet. Mark is survived by Connie Beth Taylor, his wife of 49 years and 11 months, his children Ryan Baker, Jaqueline Tanille Kelsch (Bill), Merlin Trace (Stephanie); grandkids Maili Ann, Jaycee Beth, Merl Tyler, Jedidiah Thomas, Kaleb Stoor, Taylor Bryant Baker; his siblings Merlin Paul (Siri), RaeAnn Nilson (Glen), and Myron Leigh (Christy). Preceded in death are parents Merlin Horne Workman and Doris Roe Koger, daughter Melissa Ann Workman, sister-in-law Bonnie, and nephew Mason Paul Workman.
A celebration of his life will be held January 6th at 1:00 pm in the LDS stake center at 1954 East Antelope Drive, Layton, Utah. There will a visitation at the stake center Friday January 5th 6:30 to 8:30 and 11:30 to 12:30 on Saturday the 6th. Please wear your favorite color to the funeral. He loved color. Services can be viewed by Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85914819520?pwd=L1p3L2hsZFhhSXVDU3dHRW1KTmJnQT09
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