Mark David Gonzales

Mark was born in Denver, Colorado the child of Robert (Bob) and Betty L. Gonzales, brother of Robert (Bobby) Steven Gonzales, and his little sister Sandee Eyre. Mark attended Edgewater Elementary, Belmont Junior High, and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1975. Mark then went on to Warren Tech for a degree in Graphic Arts.

Right out of high school Mark knew he loved to travel. He and his buddy Dave Collier took the truck that his parents had given him, and drove all over painting signs and murals. One mural, the entire side of a bar building with Husker football player shown throwing a pass. His return short lived, as he left with another friend Kevin McConnel shortly after. This trip brought them less work, surviving off of radishes from one kind farmer.

He once went to Mexico, rented a scooter, and traveled all around Mexico seeing the sites. Later in life he traveled to the Virgin Islands for vacation and ended up staying about 3 years. He met a man who needed some help with his sign shop, and when he found out Mark knew how to Gold Leaf he was hired on the spot. Mark’s first job was touching up the gold leaf on the Prince of France’s yacht, he said it was as big as a cruise shop, helicopter pad and all. As time was running out and the Prince had to leave, he asked Mark if he would travel with them to finish up. But he declined, as he had not seen enough of the Virgin Islands. He lived on St. Thomas, visiting the others by flying Island to Island.

Perhaps one of Mark’s highest achievements was working for Freeman Decorating, where he was head of the Sign Shop. Mark and his crew mastered all the signage for Pope John Paul’s “World Youth Day” in Denver and Cherry Creek Mass.

Mark painted a banner the year the Broncos took the Super Bowl. A photo is on display in the basement museum at Mile High Stadium, right next to a photo of Elway throwing a pass.

Mark loved our Great Rocky Mountains; he and his friends would often go fishing. One summer our family went to Flaming Gorge in Utah, and Bob and Mark hired a fishing guide to catch the BIG ONE. Well, they did! Mark’s outweighed Bob’s by 2 lbs. Both were over 30lbs. each. They both had their fish mounted.

Mark owned his sign shop, MG Graphics. He was doing quite well. He found himself stumbling a lot; so, he went to see a doctor and was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Eventually, Mark lost the use of his legs, then left arm, and was confined to a wheelchair. Mark never married, but he never missed a holiday or time with the family. He enjoyed being very present in his niece’s and nephew’s lives.

Mark is preceeded in death by his father, Robert D. Gonzales, and his grandparents: Albert and Charlotte Gonzales, Arthur and Henrietta Lane. Mark is survived by his mother; Betty Gonzales, brother: Robert S. Gonzales, Sister: Sandee Eyre, brother-in-law; Don Eyre, Nieces: Charlotte Eyre, Erica Fisher, Heather (Nate) Winters, Nephews: R.J. (Catherine) Olson, Maxwell Eyre, Stephen Eyre, and his Great Nephews, Blake, Tucker, Hank, and Frankie Winters. And one Uncle: Frank W. Gonzales, and several cousins.

Services: August 17, 2026

St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church

2771 Zenobia St. Denver, CO 303-455-1968

Rosary 11:00A.M. – Funeral Mass 11:30 A.M.

Interment of Ashes 1:00 P.M.

Olinger Crown Hill Cemetery, (Enter on Wadsworth Ave.)

7777 W. 29th, Wheat Ridge, CO 303-233-4611

Reception Following Interment Services

Rockley’s Event Center

8555 W. Colfax (Colfax and Dover St.)

Lakewood, CO 80215 720-327-4442

Please use the entrance on Colfax