Mark Alan Roberts
October 13, 1956 - Febuary 1, 2023
Mark had a passion for the simple things in life. He was an avid outdoorsman and went camping and hiking in his free time. Together with his friends, he played guitar and sang around the campfire at his home in Benton City. He created the family band Simple Pleasures which included daughter Amanda on fiddle and son James on Mandolin.
Mark was a very creative soul doing magic tricks and ventriloquism in his youth and starting his dog cabin and antique businesses later in life. He worked as a professional photographer. Mark had a variety of interests including carpentry, fishing, antiquing, back-packing, and treasure hunts. He restored vintage automobiles including The Emerald Gypsy Bus, a 1956 Studebaker, and a Lincoln Continental.
Mark was born October 13, 1956 in Omak, Washington. He grew up in North Spokane with his younger siblings Terri and Steve. As a teenager Mark spent his summers working on his Aunt Jerry and Uncle Jim’s Farm in the Palouse. He grew to love the farm and outdoors. From horseback riding to harvest, Mark spent a lot of time with his Uncle Jim. He went to Sunday morning meeting with Aunt Jerry and felt at home with them. His love of God was a solid foundation in his life.
From 1978 to 1981 Mark was a minister in his faith. Many lifelong friendships were made. In the 1980s Mark traveled to Alaska in his orange Datsun pickup to work as a finish carpenter. After Mark and Kathie were married in 1985 they moved to Wasilla, Alaska. In 1987 they moved to Santa Barbara, California where Mark attended Brookes Institute of Photography. They settled in Benton City in 1989.
In the 1990s Amanda and James were born. Mark loved his family and would go above and beyond doing interesting things with all the kids in the neighborhood. He built a lemonade stand, made light sabers from PVC pipe, and took the kids trick or treating in the Emerald Gypsy bus. Every year the family enjoyed vacations to the Oregon Coast, the annual church convention in Bonners Ferry and Ainsworth Hotsprings in Canada.
In 1999 Mark received the amazing gift of a kidney from his sister-in-law. Aunt Suzie’s kidney was life changing and gave the Roberts family many “worry free” years together. This past year Mark expressed appreciation many times for his kidney, even though he was back on dialysis.
Mark lived on “the farm” in Benton City for the past nineteen years. As his health failed he continued to express gratitude for all “our amazing friends”. A special thank you to friends who helped both Mark and Kathie through the health challenges of the past few months.
Mark was well loved and leaves behind extended friends and family including his wife Kathie, daughter Amanda Sherrill and husband Adam (Lenexa KS), son James Roberts and wife Elisabeth (Spokane, WA), mother Jan Williams (Spokane, WA), sister Terri Goad and husband Hoot (Deer Park, WA), brother Steve Roberts and wife Melissa (Eagle River, AK), niece Jenni Patterson and husband Will (Spokane, WA). He was preceded in death by his father Dale Roberts in 2015.
VIEWING
Friday Feb 17, 2023 4-7 PM PST
Prosser Funeral Home
1220 Sheridan Ave, Prosser, WA
FUNERAL
Potluck (to follow)
Saturday Feb 18, 2023 11 AM PST
VerMulm Barn
22236 N Hinzerling Rd, Prosser, WA
(Follow Signs to Barn & Parking)
Mark Roberts memorial
Time: Feb 18, 2023 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
3 Remote access options:
Links will be available at 10:30 AM when the slideshow begins
Option 1
call in # (518) 418-1638.
No code necessary
Option 2
Zoom call in numbers with codes
+1 253 205 0468 US or +1 253 215 8782 US
Meeting ID: 879 9215 4933
Passcode: 523159
Option 3
Video link with codes
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87992154933?pwd=ODZqU290MFFOOWZMQ3ppUXA2R3c0dz09
Meeting ID: 879 9215 4933
Passcode: 523159
PRIVATE FAMILY BURIAL
Evergreen Cemetery
Benton City, WA