Mark Eric Vernon

Mark Eric Vernon was born in Coalville, Utah to parents Betty June Geary and Dean LaMar Vernon. Mark was the youngest in the family with four older siblings: Larry Dean, Bradley Ray, Kathy, and Austin Kim.

His siblings remember Mark as a brilliant, sweet young boy who loved spending time with his Grandpa Ray. The pair shared many special memories, such as making nets out of sticks and mesh to play catching butterflies.

From an early age, Mark loved to learn. Grandpa Ray would read animal books with him, and Mark would learn every single animal name and fact. Mark and Ray would also exchange letters, with Mark writing that he loved Ray more than an ever-increasing list of animals he had learned: “I love you more than an arctic tern or a prong-horned antelope or a banded purple butterfly (etc.)... or anything in the world.”

That boundless intelligence is one of the first things that comes to mind for anyone who knew our “Markopedia.” An unspeakably bright and dedicated student, Mark excelled in every subject, and would go on to earn a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah in Electrical Engineering.

Mark’s impressive career took him from designing computer graphic chips at Evans and Sutherland, to developing audio-processing algorithms for hearing aids at Sonic Innovations, to creating cutting-edge data compression code at ScaleFlux. Between 2015 and 2025, Mark was issued five patents (with one more pending) for groundbreaking knowledge in hardware coding and error correction.

While math and science became his professional strong suit, Mark was also an excellent creative writer. His humorous submissions for “the worst possible opening lines to novels never written” won local and national contests.

Mark participated in various athletic activities throughout his life. He particularly enjoyed track and field as a high schooler and into his senior years. He participated in shot put, javelin and discus at the Huntsman World Senior Games in 2024, and had qualified for nationals in 2025. Mark also experienced the vast beauty of Utah and surrounding areas through biking and hiking.

In 1992, Cindy Kay Wilkinson found a date in her planner titled “Lunch with the Vernmeister.” Infamously, Cindy wasn’t in attendance at their first date - as Mark told it, he met Cindy in January, but Cindy met him in February. Luckily, Mark gave her another chance, and they spent 33 wonderful years together. As avid fans of live theatre, Cindy and Mark attended countless productions together, from their local Pioneer Theatre Company to Broadway. They also enjoyed music concerts. A small sampling of favorites includes Linda Eder, Diana Krall, The Temptations, Depeche Mode, and the Utah Symphony.

Mark is survived by Cindy and their three daughters, Allison, Lauren, and Lindsay. Their son, Erik, preceded Mark in death.

Mark’s family was his whole world. As a father, he was diligently devoted to his daughters, attending every single band and orchestra concert, dance and figure skating recital, horse dressage show, school musical, movie premiere, and more. Every night before bed, he would say “love you, proud of you” to his girls, and he really meant it every time.

Mark’s family and friends hold fond memories of playing board games together. Whether he was triumphing in word games from Boggle to Wordle, or giving award-worthy performances in the charades round of Time’s Up, nobody was more fun to play with than Mark.

Mark was an incomparably generous, kind, supportive husband and father. Mark will be remembered for his incredible sense of humor, his endless zest for knowledge, his love of art and music, and his selfless devotion to his family.

A Memorial Service for Mark will be held on Saturday, November 22nd from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Ledges Event Center in Coalville. The service will be followed by a private family luncheon.