Gorden Allen Mark Jr.

Gorden Allen Mark, Jr.

St. Augustine - Gorden Allen Mark, Jr. "Allen" died peacefully on August 16, 2020 in St. Augustine, Florida. He was born in Topeka, Kansas on July 20, 1940 to Gorden Allen Mark, Sr. and Marian B. Mark. Allen grew up in Abilene, Kansas where he attended Abilene High School. While in high school, Allen lettered in golf and was on the debate team. As a young man, he worked on his family farm and at the Gorden Mark Elevator Company.

After earning his degree in economics from Kansas University, he worked at Ralston Purina in Kansas City. In 1968, he moved to Stuart, Florida and started the family business Mark & Son, Inc. with his father. It is there where he met Mary Jo Luce, and the two married on February 22, 1969. He and his father built a respected and successful company. Throughout his career, Allen built many condominiums, houses, duplexes, and shopping centers throughout the Stuart and Hutchinson Island areas. Allen also built his family's home on Martin Avenue where he and Mary Jo raised their children, Gennifer, Joe and Scott. Allen found great joy in golfing, boating and taking annual trips to the Florida Keys with his family.

When their children had all graduated from college, Allen retired and he and Mary Jo packed up their Airstream camper and embarked on the adventure of full-time travelers. For the next six years, the two traveled throughout the United States and Canada, meeting new friends along the way and enjoying the beauty of the countryside and the interesting places they found by taking the road less traveled.

Allen and Mary Jo decided to set roots in St. Augustine, Florida to spend more time with their children and grandchildren. The two purchased four acres of land where they remodeled a home and built a large barn where they could store their camper and where Allen could build an impressive carpentry workshop. It was there that Allen used his woodworking craft to build exquisite furniture and knives. With a great love of the craft Allen built tables, chairs, desks, and dressers, and he generously gave his creations to his wife, children and grandchildren to treasure. Allen was also an avid gardener who earned his Master Gardener certification through The Florida Master Gardener Program.

Allen was a kind and generous man who was adored by his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by his wife Mary Jo of St. Augustine, Florida; his daughter Gennifer Gladwin (Rob) of Knoxville, Tennessee; his sons Gorden Allen Mark III "Joe" (Meredith); and Scott Mark (Heather) both of Jacksonville, Florida. Allen's seven grandchildren, Gunnar, Addison, Sarah, Alex, Riley, Allen and Kate, will forever miss their wonderful Grandpa. Allen will also be missed by his sister Mary Bame (John) of Anacortes, Washington, and his brother in law Myron "Mike" Luce (Susie) of Stuart, Florida.