Mark Gilmer Welborn

Mark Gilmer Welborn, 63, of Las Vegas, Nevada passed away May 15, following a short illness. A native of Vernon County, Mark was born at the Nevada City Hospital on May 10, 1955, to Joseph Eugene (“Gene”) and Lula (Pratt) Welborn of rural Nevada. He was the 4th of 6 children all raised in the Ellis community.

Mark brought a liveliness to the household and kept his parents on their toes. He loved to be outside, helped his mom with gardening and kept everyone entertained with his musical talent and an inventive and fun-loving spirit. He helped his dad build several buildings on the family farm and worked with him raising hogs. Mark graduated from Bronaugh High School in 1973. In school and throughout his life, he embraced everyone as a friend. However, not everyone appreciated his direct approach to life, including his matter of fact opinions.

Not many have had such a varied career life as Mark had. At a young age, he started a grain business in Liberal, Mo., worked as a conductor on the railroad (the youngest in the system), then moved to Alaska where he worked in Dutch Harbor, processing crab. In his mid-20s, construction became his lifelong career. He lived and worked in Juneau, Alaska, for many years, then moved to Carnation, Wash., where his construction career continued. His family moved to West Jordan, Utah, where Mark was instrumental in road construction, including interstate highways. The company moved to Las Vegas and he moved as well and continued working as superintendent on a major floodwater diversion project in and around the city.

Throughout his life, Mark was an avid outdoorsman. He loved raising livestock in his younger days and was exceptionally talented with growing flowers and gardens. As a master craftsman, he could plan, draw and build beautiful cabinets, staircases, furniture and keepsakes for his family. He was most proud of his 40-acre property in the Uinta Mountains of Utah, where, over the last 20 years, he and his boys constructed a cabin and large deck. There at his mountain retreat, Mark lived in the summer (snow-free) months, among ancient pinion pines and dinosaur bones, and there, he enjoyed silent nights gazing at the Milky Way. The mountain centered him, and his ashes will be spread there where no doubt, his spirit rests.

Mark was a proud dad of five children, Jeremy Welborn (Teresa DePape), of Camino Island, Wash.; Jodie (Sean) Dutton, of Columbia, Mo.; Ashley (Evan) Osborne, of Medford, Ore.; Jesse Welborn, of Camino Island, Wash.; and Joseph Welborn, of Oak Harbor, Wash. He was an even prouder grandpa of nine grandchildren. Mark was preceded in death by his parents Eugene and Lula Welborn; brother, Matt Welborn; and niece, Amy Welborn. His wife, Zaree Welborn, survives of the home in Las Vegas. Mark also leaves siblings and in-laws: Joe and Elaine Welborn, of Stockton, Mo.; Llewellyn and Leo Lutchansky, of Juneau, Alaska; Jim Welborn, of Wentworth, Mo.; and Laurie and Kevin Woolfolk, of Pierce City, Mo.; as well as many cousins, nephews and nieces and step-children.

Mark’s life was short, but he lived robustly. All those who knew him knew that everything that he did was without restraint! A gathering will be held June 10, at the Welborn family farm, 19523 S. 1000 Road, Nevada, at 4 p.m. to celebrate Mark’s life. Friends are invited to come, bring a lawn chair, a favorite beverage and most importantly, favorite memories and pictures to share of Mark’s voluminous life. To contact the family, please email Jodie Welborn Dutton at jldutton75@gmail.com.