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Mark Alan Conover, 72, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed April 15, 2024 at the Mayo Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, from Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
He was born March 19, 1952 to Susanna Wittmann Conover and Challmer Glenn Conover in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the 3rd of 5 sons: Glenn (Challmer Glenn III), Rick (Charles Richard), Jon David, and Kim Edward.
Mark grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah where he enjoyed playing with army men, shooting BB guns, riding bikes, and camping trips with his family. Family vacations to Fort Lewis, Washington, for his father's Army Reserves summer camp d Mark with memories of exploration and adventure. Trips to places like Olympic National Park and the USS Missouri Battleship fueled his curiosity and love for travel and history. For weekend fun, Mark frequently enjoyed his allowance of 35 cents which he would use to go downtown and watch movies. He enjoyed superhero shows like Superman and Hercules. During the summer months, he enjoyed swimming at the local YMCA, and listening to the Beatles, his favorite band, despite his parents not being fans.
Mark attended East High School and played football his sophomore year. He worked at the Dunford Bakery through his senior year of high school with his favorite treats being cinnamon rolls and pecan pie, a love that he described, unfortunately lasted all of his life. He enjoyed the outdoors and worked as a River Rafting guide on the Colorado and Yampa Rivers in the summer after high school graduation. He was able to take his own young family on a river rafting trip and he taught them his favorite word to yell "YOGI" when going down great rapids.
He graduated from the University of Utah majoring in Geography. He served a mission to Chile for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and made meaningful connections with the people he served. He shared his testimony unwaveringly throughout his life.
Mark married Deidre Horrocks on November 19, 1976, in the Salt Lake Temple, and they raised three amazing sons: Christopher, Curtis, and Marshal. Mark loved being a dad and cherished time with his family, which has grown to 10 +1 grandchildren.
Mark was a great provider, working many years at Roadway Express Trucking as a Salesman and Manager in Utah and North Carolina. He gave up the office jobs and later loved working as a Groundskeeper for the Orlando Temple in Florida while living there for 10 years. Returning to Utah in 2016, he worked for Larkin Mortuary in Salt Lake City area where he found a lot of satisfaction in comforting others during times of bereavement.
His love of adventure and new opportunities took the family throughout Utah and North Carolina for 10 years and Florida for another 10 years as well. While living in North Carolina, Mark and Deidre served a mission to Paraguay, while their son, Marshal, was on his mission. Having all his sons serve missions brought him tremendous joy; Chris in Argentina, Curt in Chile where Mark served as a young man, and Marshal in Mexico. He wrote them faithfully throughout their missions and always made a point of writing a personal message on their birthday cards.
His sense of humor, faith, love of life, and commitment to his family was felt by all who had the chance to know him. He loved to read and hike, listening to John Denver's Rocky Mountain High. He told great bedtime stories, had a hearty laugh and smile, and was a magnet with kids and animals. He enjoyed watching all sports but especially the University of Utah football team and loved to rib BYU supporters. Travel, seeing new sites, and visiting family abroad with their work assignments energized him. He especially loved cruises and met many special friends and his future goal was a world cruise.
He had many callings in church, but especially loved serving the youth. The youth loved his teasing mannerisms and tears which would flow when sharing his personal feelings. Throughout his life, he stayed true to his covenants and testimony of Jesus Christ. Mark will be deeply missed by all who knew him, but his legacy of laughter, love, and adventure will live on in the hearts of those he touched.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Jon Conover.
A Celebration of Mark's life was held Sunday, April 21, 2024, at the Coral Canyon 3 rd Ward in Washington, Utah, with friends, family, lots of hugs, tears, and laughter. We thank and appreciate the medical staff who cared for Mark. He made great connections with you all and praised and loved those who took care of him. You were all his favorites!