Last updated on October 29, 2021
Mark Alan Paxton, age 53, of Rockwall, TX passed away on October 24, 2021. He was born May 20, 1968, in Denver, CO to James Donald Paxton and Claudia Kathleen (Gorman) Paxton. Mark’s family moved to Garland, TX when he was still an infant and he remained a resident there for over 35 years. Mark started sports at a young age playing Pee Wee football, soccer, and Little League and he remained heavily involved in athletics throughout his youth. His main love was football and he played at Brandenburg Middle School, South Garland High School, and Bethany College in Kansas where he received an academic and football scholarship. During Mark’s years at SGHS, his teammates started calling him PacMan, and a lifelong nickname was born. Later in life, Mark earned a degree in Dietary Management and worked as a Dietary Manager in senior care and rehab facilities across the metroplex. On a part-time basis, he could be found feeding his love for sports through his involvement in the Texas Association of Sports Officials and the Dallas Football Officials Association. Through these organizations, he officiated middle school and high school football and baseball for over 20 years. In 1993 Mark met the love of his life when his daughter, Taylor, was born. He loved being her father and just recently experienced the joy of becoming a grandfather. His other joys in life were Jesus, his family, Jimmy Buffet, dad jokes, and being the life of the party. He loved to laugh and to make other people laugh. We’ll never understand why, but he got the biggest kick out of calling himself and other people Johhny. Mark loved the Lord and had a solid relationship with Him. We know where he is now, and we can’t help but think when he got there he said, “Heeere’s Johnny!”. Mark was one of a kind. His kind heart and laughter are what we will all miss most but we take comfort knowing heaven just got a lot more fun and someday we will be there laughing with him again.
Mark is survived by his daughter: Taylor Prestwood and husband Colbie of Josephine, TX; mother: Claudia Paxton of Rockwall, TX; sister: Melissa Sandlin and husband Bryan of Rockwall, TX; grandson: Paxton Prestwood; and nieces: Meredith Cepak and husband Courtland of Fate, TX and Emily Holden and husband Jake of Rockwall, TX. He was preceded in death by his father James Paxton
A celebration of Mark’s life will be held at 4:00 pm, Monday, November 1, 1021, at Reflections at Rest Haven Funeral Home-Rockwall Location. A gathering of family and friends will be held Monday afternoon, prior to the service, beginning at 3:00 pm.
The service will also be live-streamed; please go to www.oneroomstreaming.com and click on the “watch your service” icon and use Event ID: resthavenrockwall and password: E4Q4G3
In lieu of flowers please send a donation to Methodist Health System Foundation in Mark’s honor.
https://www.methodisthealthsystem.org/giving/methodist-health-system-foundation/ways-to-support/donate-online/
