Marco T. Mendez

1955 - 2011

Marco T. Mendez, 55, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Friday, June 10, 2011.
Marco was born June 13, 1955, in Italy, a son of the late Gustavo and Gloria Mendez. Marco was a diesel specialist in heavy equipment. He attended Destiny Worship Center and was a member of the Non-Commissioned Officer Association at Hurlburt Field and was a soccer coach. His hobbies included racquetball, scuba diving, motorcycles, boating, horseback riding and paintballing. His family remembers him as a loving husband, father and friend. He was unselfish and had a pure heart.
Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Teresa Mendez of Fort Walton Beach; four sons, Marco Mendez Jr., Carlo Mendez and his wife, Tiffany, of Fort Walton Beach, Yari Mendez of South Florida, and Bruno Mendez and his fiancé, Mary, of Fort Walton Beach; six grandchildren; one sister, Maria Gabriella and her husband, Alejandro Felix, of Panama; two brothers, Flavio Mendez and his wife, Ivone, of Panama, and Piero Mattusi and his wife, Tatiana, of Brazil; father-in-law, Robert Christie; brothers-in-law, Mario and Roxanne Bultron, Bill and Gabriela Christie, Rolando and Courtney Mata, and Alex Christie; sister-in-law, Carmen Biggerstaff; and numerous nieces and nephews that were very dear to his heart.
A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, June 17, at Destiny Worship Center in Miramar Beach, Fla. Pastor Steve Vaggalis will officiate. The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m., one hour before the service at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Hospital, Children's Cancer, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105-3678.
Arrangements entrusted to Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach. Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com