Mark George Goulette, 70, died on Feb. 18, surrounded and uplifted by the love of his family. Many people called Mark "larger than life," but after several complex back surgeries that took place at Presbyterian/St. Luke hospital in Denver, on Feb 7th Mark suffered cardiac arrest and went into a coma. Unfortunately, due to severe brain damage, the body that Mark used to do so much good on this earth would never recover. Mark was born on October 9, 1952, in Moultrie, Georgia. His wonderful family included father, George, mother, Betty, and sisters Mary and Jennie. In 1961 the family moved to Boulder, Colorado. Mark graduated from Boulder High School where he was a football team captain and excelled in other sports. He attended and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, where he met his loving wife Debbie. Mark's ready smile reflected his generous spirit. He supported his hometown of Walden, Colorado in countless ways, by serving on numerous boards. Over the years he helped get grants to build the Jackson County Swimming Pool, and North Park medical facilities. He served as a member of the Jackson County Search and Rescue and aided Jackson County Council on Aging. Behind the scenes Mark helped everyone! He used his carpentry skills and anonymous monetary donations to support residents of Walden. Mark moved to Walden, CO in 1976. During his 26 years at North Park High School he taught Industrial Arts and Building Trades. He also coached high school football and wrestling for much of that time. In 1985, Mark started Goulette Construction. He built and designed custom homes part time during his summers, and then full time after he retired from teaching in 2003. Each year Mark would hire local high school students and teach them valuable construction and life skills. Many of these young men went on to pursue careers in the construction industry. His employees became lifetime friends with their boss, always remembering his contagious enthusiasm for life, incredible work ethic and his dedication to quality workmanship. Mark and Debbie enjoyed 45 years of marriage. In 1989 they had their only child Josie Paige. As a family they enjoyed travelling. Their favorite places included Italy and Akumal, Mexico. Skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, jeeping and horseback riding were the family's favorite pastimes. Mark and Debbie were devout Catholics and took religious pilgrimages to Europe and South America. They attended and always supported St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Walden. Funeral services will be held Friday, March 3rd at 11:00 at the high school gym in Walden. In lieu of flowers, Debbie and Josie ask that donations be made to either Jackson County (CO) Search and Rescue or to Jackson County (CO) Council on Aging. Both have websites. Donations can also be sent to Mountain Valley Bank, Post Office Drawer 758, Walden, CO 80480. Visit www.montgomerystryker.com to send condolences.

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Published by The Daily Camera on Feb. 28, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Mark Goulette

Sponsored by Montgomery-Stryker Funeral Home.

14 Entries

Sammy Montoya

February 22, 2025

Sammy Montoya

February 22, 2025

Been two years since I read of your departure, Marcus. Times in Greeley still drift in and out of my memory banks.
Tupelo Honey, Van Morrison will forever remind me of you and our short time together.
A very good individual I met in 1971.
Keep my spot in the wheat fields reserved so we can reminisce about old times.
Til next year, Mark-
I feel you smiling down on me...
Know I'm smiling back!

Sammy Montoya

December 1, 2023

Just received notice of Mark's passing and have to be honest- it rocked me.
I met this kindred spirit back in college. He and I played football together at UNC for one year before going our separate ways. We warriored together, we partied together and just plain had a good time.
I was unaware of this dude's prowess on the mat until years later when I would discover that he wrestled for the Colorado state championship against a Pueblo wrestler by the name of Jim Valle.
I wrestled Valle myself and got turned inside out.
Valle was a year older than Mark and myself and MGG gave him a run for his money.
I'll never forget the Fall afternoon Mark and I stopped into a little pub very close to campus after a very grueling practice.
Just happened to be FAC and we knocked off several pitchers while listening to Van Morrison's 'Tupelo Honey'.
To this day, whenever I hear a cut off that album, I think of that space in time.
I didn't get to know Mark Goulette as well as I wish I could have, but I realized later on what a good dude he was.
Marcus, you walk the Wheat Fields of Elysium now and are out of this mess.
I hope to meet your acquaintance again when I, myself make the 'Journey'.
Rest easy, my friend...

Lauri Conley

May 3, 2023

Got to have him in walden as a teacher in shop,a great man love to family .

mark

March 3, 2023

Mark was my best friend since we were in 4th grade together on the
playground at Sacred Heart in Boulder. Even back then Mark was
larger than life, he just had that presence about him that left you
breathless. And underneath as so many people now know, he had a
true heart of gold. And Mark was a leader for so many of us as we
grew up, as if nothing in the world would be a match for him. But I
also got to see Mark from the inside, as he just welcomed me into his
family on East Ridge, back in those days, and what a wonderful world
it was. George and Bette had that smiling way of welcoming another
`troublemaker´ in the front door trailing after their Mark, and they and
Jennie would listen attentively to the latest exploits and adventures.
Many were on bicycles, or me on the front handlbars of Mark´s bike
as I would be pedaled by him all over town to Putt Putt golf,
Macdonalds, or to clamber over giant machinery in the developing
fields. So many endless summer days I followed him everywhere,
swimming at Scott Carpenter pool with the gang, or floating tubes
down Boulder Creek for miles. Mark had even run a wire to a
speaker for us to listen in to the nearby drive-in movie from next to his
house. And then there were rides and near crashes on the minibike
he made. And eventually high school rides in the cool chevys he and
his dad had rounded up.
Later as we grew up and moved on to other lives in college and out of
Boulder, Mark would still always give me call, spin yarns about his
latest adventures or mishaps, invite me up to Walden to see him
reveling in the cowboy and teacher and husband-to-Debbie world he
was making and literally building up there amongst the mountains
and ranches and sandunes. Mark brought Debbie down to Tucson
for him to be best man at Gloria´s and my wedding there, and he
stood me up proud as I could be with the whisky shot he got me.
And later and later, and later still he would still always call and we
would talk as if we were still the 2 young `partners in crime" of old
days. That´s how Mark´s adventurous stories would enchant me. And
his stories would always tell of his wonderful, loving family (now with
Josie of course) and the wonderful people who always surrounded
him. But most importantly they would tell of his own great heart´s
love for so many others. And I am still learning from you my best
friend Mark as you lead us on to join your folks and so many others
like you in heaven.

Kirk Hendrickson

March 3, 2023

There are no words to describe the heart break hearing of Mark´s death. As a teenager Mark was an important part of my life. He was the epitome of a perfect teammate playing football and I loved to go down to the Coliseum in Denver to watch him compete in the state wrestling championship. Mark was everything good about that time of my life and most of all he showed me what integrity and keeping a "cool head" really meant.
Special prayers for Jennie and Debbie and all those fortunate to know and love Mark Goulette.

Paul Hoffman

March 2, 2023

Mark lived his life with a purpose, an enthusiasm and an intensity that was unmatched by anyone that I ever knew. We all admired his zest for life. There is no doubt that Mark was a living Superman. I´m surely going to cherish the phone calls and times spent visiting. RIP my good friend.

Mark McMillen

March 2, 2023

Mark and I became fast friends when he moved to Boulder and enrolled at Sacred Heart. We gave the nuns all they could handle..and a few of them gave it back to us. He, Chuck Steele and I formed a pretty formidable basketball team there. I don't remember us losing a game. In our Tom and Huck days I would tube down Boulder creek to his house near 30th, lucky to have made it a few times. We would tube everywhere, build rafts that fell apart out east where we let the creek take us. He was constantly making go-carts, motorbikes, anything experimental..I was often the test pilot. Down the hill from his house was a Drive-in and we cut one of the speakers and spliced in a cable that would run across the road up the hill, where we could watch the movies with our own speaker. Mark was a true adventurer..he was game for anything and everything. You couldn't say no to his infectious enthusiasm and mischievous smile. We were also in our first band together playing grade school dances and parties, rehearsing loudly in his parents basement! He and I shared the same two things that drove us. Sports and Music. What an athlete he was..just a dominant force. When we travelled to other Catholic schools for basketball games the other teams thought he was in high school. One time he borrowed a BHS letter jacket and really blew their minds! I'm grateful to have had those unforgettable years growing up with "Gouls"..He took life by the horns and I thank him for letting some of it rub off. RIP my ole' partner in crime. Mark McMillen

Mary Belfry

March 1, 2023

I´m so happy to have met Mark when he was in Minneapolis visiting his sister Jennie, a long time friend of mine. I will always remember the first time we met, he had that big smile and strong handshake! Mark always wanted to know how life was treating me! That says a lot about someone.

During his visits I was so grateful to have time with Deb and Josie. The three of them made a terrific family!!

I´m sending all of the family lots of prayers and incredibly sorry for your loss.

Best, Mary Belfry

Val Solheim

March 1, 2023

Happy trails dear Mark.

Julie Folkers

March 1, 2023

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.

J Chivers

February 28, 2023

Mark and I were in different circles of friends at Boulder High School but I always thought of him as someone who would come out on top of whatever he confronted.
I still felt I was more of a friend as Paul Hoffman would tell me all about his visits with your family in Walden on his way through. He had the greatest things to say about Mark.
My heartfelt condolences.
Aloha

Cathie (Gallup) Duncan

February 28, 2023

Debbie I am so sorry for your loss. Mark was such a vibrant soul. Please take care.

Chuck Smith

February 27, 2023

Mark and I shared many things. We were teammates in football and basketball at Casey Jr. High, then roommates at UNC. Mark was a star in all of his endeavors and I admired his skills and his boundless energy. I can't help but think about the long conversation we had last summer at our high school class reunion. We made a pledge to stay in touch. Unfortunately, after his untimely passing, I must now rely on yearbooks and fond memories to do this. RIP Mark!!

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