Simply CremationMark L. Gibson
Mr. Mark Lee Gibson, 62 of Surprise, Arizona passed away surrounded by his family on January 12, 2023, in Surprise, Arizona. He was born October 10, 1960, to Elise Pryor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Mark was a dedicated employee of the City of Glendale for 24 years. While working for the city, he was awarded dozens of recognitions and awards. He was well respected by his peers and all he came in contact with. He loved working side by side with his City of Glendale family to help build a bigger and better future for the future of Glendale, Arizona.
He will be remembered as a loving father, husband, and grandfather.
He is survived by his spouse of 23 years, Misty Gibson; his daughters, Candice Rogers, and Ashley Gibson; his son, Christopher Gibson, and his mother, Elise Pryor, as well as his 9 grandchildren: Erykah Gibson, Lily Gibson, Cameron Gibson, Samantha Rogers, Roman Lapre, Jonathan Rogers, Nick Rogers, Topanga Pomeroy, and Will Avery.
As a co-worker of Mark’s, he has been a staple in our industry for many years and we have all developed both professional and personal relationships with him. For a guy with many words, I don’t have many right now. As much as we knew Mark was human in his frailty, he seemed superhuman in his spirit and energy. This tragic news came to us very suddenly and many of us feel shorted for not being able to show him in person, the proper level of reverence that he had earned professionally, and that represents our personal love for the man as a colleague and friend. Mark was a true champion for all of his team mates and a “one stop shop” of knowledge and experience.
My time working with Mark at the City of Glendale was short, only a few years. He was very helpful and dictated, and was great at making sure I was able to get what I needed to do my work tasks. He will be missed.
Mark was the guy who gave me a chance at the City of Glendale. I greatly respected Mark because he was a man who got things done, knew the right people and had a great attitude about work and life in general. He will be greatly missed by all.
I’d like to offer my most sincere condolences to Marks family in this time of need. After working with Mark for his entire tenure at the City of Glendale, his dry sense of humor was infectious, as was his laugh. Mark and I had a wonderful sparring humorous relationship in addition to our work lives. He will certainly be missed for his outstanding work ethic, commitment to service and the good hearted jabs we threw at each other, he will be sorely missed.
We are truly sorry for your loss…
Im really going to miss this guy. Mark was my supervisor for 16 years and also my friend. Whenever I stopped by downtown I always made sure that his office was the first place I stopped. Id tease him about what junk food he had a stash of and of course he’s always offer me some. I literally owe my job to him as I was on the layoff list in 2012 and he found a way to keep me. Its impossible to know what my life would be like if I hadn’t met him, but its sure that it wouldn’t be the same. My condolences to his family and especially his wife Misty.
Thank you for entrusting us to handle the arrangements for Mr. Gibson.
Wishing Misty and the rest of his family and friends both peace and comfort during this time.
Mark Gibson IS the reason I was hired by the City of Glendale 15 years ago, and he was instrumental in keeping me on staff during the layoffs and my Military deployments. I am going to miss the early morning interactions with my Boss. He was cantankerous, gruff and a PITA, but man did everyone love him. Mark and I are the same age and both from the East coast, and he loved my deviled eggs. I am going to miss him both professionally and personally. I grieve with his family, but also celebrate a very decent, hard working and loyal friend. RIP Boss.
I was fortunate enough to know Mark Gibson for 18 years. I worked hand and hand with him on a daily basis. The greeting, “What can I do for you young man” was common with Mark. Of course, on occasion Mark would ask for me to do something for him, it was generally simple tasks, with the exception of his favorite to ask of me, pecan and apple smoked brisket or pork butt, a 12 – 20-hour cook. Mark would set the fried chicken aside for a quality smoked sliced brisket or pulled pork.
If I had to choose one single thing I admired about Mark, it would be his patience. As commonly stated, “Patience is a virtue”. Mark had this quality embedded deep with-in his work ethic. He was able to accept things without expressing anger and had the ability to accept unfortunate circumstances. Mark’s “waiting with grace” attitude was calming to me, often I would see it consume others around him. As noted in scripture, “Patience is a fruit of the Spirit”. Throughout the last 18 years, Mark taught me what my parents preached to me my entire life.
Instant gratification is just that, and good things come to those that are patient.
Thank you for everything Mark, thanks for allowing me to be a part of our Engineering fam, rest easy.
I am going to miss that man… Gibson and I have worked together as colleagues, friends, and then as my supervisor totaling over 20 plus years it seems. I had developed a close working relationship with Mark, well as close as he would let you, and he always took care of me at work and I strived hard to take care of him. I took comfort when he would mention he could count on me. I considered Mark as a friend and mentor. He was gruff on the outside, but compassionate on the inside. Being a single father he always encouraged me to take care of my boy and spend time with him. He would always say yes when it came to asking for any time off to spend with my boy or family. Mark and I have worked together under differing leadership changes throughout the years, which we have both had to adapt to the changing cultures. However when I was called into his office, or I had something to discuss we both could tell each other how the cow ate the cabbage without worrying about offending each other. If we differed on topics and he was done discussing it he would say “Son, get out of my office”, and then I knew I wasn’t going to get my way ha ha! I suppose we were old school that way… Each time when I looked back before I left his office he would have a smile on his face assuring me it’s all good, and now go do your job. I loved that man, and I will never forget him. It will never be the same at work without him, but I am sure he is looking down saying ” Son, adapt and go do your job”. And with that I will oblige… Rest in peace my friend!
Thank you for all you have done. I’ve only worked for Mark G. for four years, but I’ve been in the construction industry for twenty-five years and inspection for the last seventeen years. He was the best boss/manager I have ever had. He was a good man and friend he will be missed.
So sorry to hear of Marks passing
We have known Mark and family for several years through Misty’s family
May he RIP.
You were the best dad ever. I miss you with every fiber of my being
I am Marks newest/latest addition to Engineering. Although there’s several moving parts to getting on the team, In the end I had Marks blessing to become part of it. Although I haven’t spent too much time time with Mark ( One office visit and an interview) I am TRULY GRATEFUL for him. He is a HUGE factor in the start of my Engineering career. I can only repay this with dedication, commitment and being the absolute best Engineering Associate (Inspector) that I can be. Thank you Mark…. Thank you.
I had the pleasure to work with Mark Gibson & for the Engineering Dept for the City of Glendale during the fast-track Westgate development, Cabela’s & the many sports venues for football, hockey & baseball not to mention a healthy residential & Capital improvement program! It was an extremely hectic period of time! Mark simply thrived on this pressure and his multi-tasking work ethic talents, ability & knowledge to direct the many utility companies & city departments was invaluable to getting the job done in time! My sincerest condolences to my former colleagues at the City & especially to Mrs. Misty Gibson,, the family & to his friends.