Obituary: Mark W. Williams, 59, father, son, brother, coach, teacher and friend, was mercifully summoned home by his Creator on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009, surrounded by the love of his family and friends after a long and gallant battle with colon cancer. During Jr and Sr years I played lead guitar in a 4 piece garage rock/dance band with Mark and his brother Jay. (Jay and I both eventually ended up in the Navy) We played many GHS "Victory Dances" after foot ball games and also many "Sock Hops" at the local skating rinks on Saturday nights....it was truly life at it's best for young High School Rock Band members....we were cool. Mark was always a fun loving but serious individual, a great musician and a true "Salt of the Earth" type person...He had a huge positive influence on me at a time when I was lacking and needed positive peer pressures. I left big "G" in 70 and lost touch but I'll never lose those memories and influences...
I remember the garage band rehersals. it was fun having a "band" down the street. Me and my younger sisters mostly hung around Mark's younger sisters but before we were to teenagers we would have just kid time. Running around the new neighborhood playing in the unfinished houses and messing around the white rock creek. Good memories. It was nice having those time with them.
I sat next to Mark in Mechanical Drawing with golf coach and Teacher Bill Stewart. He constantly cracked me up with his wit and humor and coach Stewart always heard us. Extra routines. Mark and I both were in garage bands and we both played drums. Little did I know that he was a very good gymnyst. He ended up coaching my brother Michael Wilson and Michael ended up in the 1980 Olympics. Mark was a very good friend to Michael and Myself. Not right that the good always die young. He was always a fighter to the end. God Bless Mark Williams.
Mark W. Williams, 59, our loving husband, father, son, brother, coach, teacher and friend, was mercifully summoned home by his Creator on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009, surrounded by the love of his family and friends after a long and gallant battle with colon cancer. Service: The family would like to invite Mark's family and friends to join them in a celebration of Mark's life at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, in the auditorium at Trinity High School, 500 N. Industrial Blvd., Euless. Memorials: In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Mark Williams Gymnastics Scholarship Fund. Donations can be sent to Debbie Williams, L.D. Bell High School, 1601 Brown Trail, Hurst, Texas 76054. The Williams family would like to thank all who have supported them during Mark's illness and are grateful for everyone's prayers and expressions of love. We would also like to thank Dr. James M. Turner, M.D., and the most caring staff of Texas Oncology in Bedford for all of their valiant efforts on Mark's behalf. Thank you for helping us to persevere during the past three years and for sharing the burden of our loss. Mark was born in 1950 to Jean and Bill Williams in Oil City, Pa. He graduated from Garland High School and studied physical education at the University of North Texas in Denton, graduating in 1974. Mark began his gymnastics coaching career at the Garland Flippers Club in 1970 and continued there until 1984. Mark began coaching gymnastics and teaching at North Junior High School in Richardson in 1976, and in 1977 at North Garland High School, where he coached numerous state and national champions. Mark fulfilled a lifelong dream in 1984 when he became the assistant men's gymnastics coach at the University of Oklahoma. In 1987, Mark returned to coaching in Garland at South Garland High School and also his alma mater, Garland High School. The following year, he was named head boys' gymnastics coach at Euless Trinity High School where he built, over his 20-year tenure, one of the most respected and successful high school gymnastics programs in the state of Texas. In addition to coaching gymnastics, he was an internationally rated gymnastics judge who was an enthusiastic member of the National Gymnastics Judging Association. Over the course of his judging career, he had the opportunity to judge many national and international competitions. The Gymnastics Association of Texas made Mark a lifetime member in 2004 for his contributions to the sport. Mark was inducted in 2007 into the Garland Sports Hall of Fame, and the following year he was inducted into the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Sports Hall of Fame. This past spring the men's gymnastics region III program honored Mark by presenting him with the first annual Mark Williams Award, which will recognize individuals for their contributions to the sport. This summer the National Gymnastics Judging Association bestowed on Mark the highest honor a judge can receive in the United States by presenting him the Frank Cumisky Gymnastics Judging Award. Survivors: His wife, Debbie; sons, Chris Williams and Trip Bellard and wife, Rachel; daughter, Cass Lynn and husband, Joey; grandson, Michael Reed Downing; mother, Jean Atkin; brother, Jay Williams; and sisters, Jody and Linda Williams. Lucas Funeral Home Hurst: 817-284-7271
Ricky (Rick) Fowler
Obituary: Mark W. Williams, 59, father, son, brother, coach, teacher and friend, was mercifully summoned home by his Creator on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009, surrounded by the love of his family and friends after a long and gallant battle with colon cancer. During Jr and Sr years I played lead guitar in a 4 piece garage rock/dance band with Mark and his brother Jay. (Jay and I both eventually ended up in the Navy) We played many GHS "Victory Dances" after foot ball games and also many "Sock Hops" at the local skating rinks on Saturday nights....it was truly life at it's best for young High School Rock Band members....we were cool. Mark was always a fun loving but serious individual, a great musician and a true "Salt of the Earth" type person...He had a huge positive influence on me at a time when I was lacking and needed positive peer pressures. I left big "G" in 70 and lost touch but I'll never lose those memories and influences...
Robin Hoffman (Reynolds)
I remember the garage band rehersals. it was fun having a "band" down the street. Me and my younger sisters mostly hung around Mark's younger sisters but before we were to teenagers we would have just kid time. Running around the new neighborhood playing in the unfinished houses and messing around the white rock creek. Good memories. It was nice having those time with them.Steve Wilson
I sat next to Mark in Mechanical Drawing with golf coach and Teacher Bill Stewart. He constantly cracked me up with his wit and humor and coach Stewart always heard us. Extra routines. Mark and I both were in garage bands and we both played drums. Little did I know that he was a very good gymnyst. He ended up coaching my brother Michael Wilson and Michael ended up in the 1980 Olympics. Mark was a very good friend to Michael and Myself. Not right that the good always die young. He was always a fighter to the end. God Bless Mark Williams.
Steve Wilson GHS 69
Bobby Hise
Mark was a good guy. We hung around in elementary and some in junior high, where we trained in gymnastics together. Sorry I didn't keep in touch.
David T. Alexander
Mark W. Williams, 59, our loving husband, father, son, brother, coach, teacher and friend, was mercifully summoned home by his Creator on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009, surrounded by the love of his family and friends after a long and gallant battle with colon cancer. Service: The family would like to invite Mark's family and friends to join them in a celebration of Mark's life at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, in the auditorium at Trinity High School, 500 N. Industrial Blvd., Euless. Memorials: In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Mark Williams Gymnastics Scholarship Fund. Donations can be sent to Debbie Williams, L.D. Bell High School, 1601 Brown Trail, Hurst, Texas 76054. The Williams family would like to thank all who have supported them during Mark's illness and are grateful for everyone's prayers and expressions of love. We would also like to thank Dr. James M. Turner, M.D., and the most caring staff of Texas Oncology in Bedford for all of their valiant efforts on Mark's behalf. Thank you for helping us to persevere during the past three years and for sharing the burden of our loss. Mark was born in 1950 to Jean and Bill Williams in Oil City, Pa. He graduated from Garland High School and studied physical education at the University of North Texas in Denton, graduating in 1974. Mark began his gymnastics coaching career at the Garland Flippers Club in 1970 and continued there until 1984. Mark began coaching gymnastics and teaching at North Junior High School in Richardson in 1976, and in 1977 at North Garland High School, where he coached numerous state and national champions. Mark fulfilled a lifelong dream in 1984 when he became the assistant men's gymnastics coach at the University of Oklahoma. In 1987, Mark returned to coaching in Garland at South Garland High School and also his alma mater, Garland High School. The following year, he was named head boys' gymnastics coach at Euless Trinity High School where he built, over his 20-year tenure, one of the most respected and successful high school gymnastics programs in the state of Texas. In addition to coaching gymnastics, he was an internationally rated gymnastics judge who was an enthusiastic member of the National Gymnastics Judging Association. Over the course of his judging career, he had the opportunity to judge many national and international competitions. The Gymnastics Association of Texas made Mark a lifetime member in 2004 for his contributions to the sport. Mark was inducted in 2007 into the Garland Sports Hall of Fame, and the following year he was inducted into the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Sports Hall of Fame. This past spring the men's gymnastics region III program honored Mark by presenting him with the first annual Mark Williams Award, which will recognize individuals for their contributions to the sport. This summer the National Gymnastics Judging Association bestowed on Mark the highest honor a judge can receive in the United States by presenting him the Frank Cumisky Gymnastics Judging Award. Survivors: His wife, Debbie; sons, Chris Williams and Trip Bellard and wife, Rachel; daughter, Cass Lynn and husband, Joey; grandson, Michael Reed Downing; mother, Jean Atkin; brother, Jay Williams; and sisters, Jody and Linda Williams. Lucas Funeral Home Hurst: 817-284-7271