Mark Gessford
Mark Linden Gessford, 27, of Belleville, Ill., born April 4, 1982, in Belleville, Ill., died Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009, as a result of injuries sustained in a traffic accident.
Mark was a laboratory technician for Centocor, a division of Johnson and Johnson in St. Louis, Mo. He graduated from Belleville West Township High School in 2000, and later received his Bachelor's Degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Mark loved sports and music.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Stanley Gessford; his maternal grandfather, Carl Lowe; and an aunt, Mae Athmer.
Surviving are his parents, Floyd E. and Bonnie F., nee Lowe, Gessford of Belleville, Ill.; the love of his life, Valerie Naeger of St. Louis, Mo.; two brothers, Matthew (Cori) Gessford of Collinsville, Ill., and Daniel Gessford of Belleville, Ill.; his paternal grandmother, Wilma Gessford of Decatur, Ill.; his maternal grandmother, Garnet Lowe of Belleville, Ill.; two nieces, Kaylee and Abigail Gessford; aunts; uncles; cousins; and many friends.
Memorials may be made to the Mark Gessford Memorial Scholarship Fund. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009, at George Renner and Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, Ill.

Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, at George Renner and Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, Ill., with Dr. Phillip R. Silsby officiating. Burial will be at Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, Ill.

GEORGE RENNER & SONS FUNERAL HOME, Belleville, Ill.