Mark Andrew Brunson, of Miles, Texas, passed away peacefully, Monday, September 26, 2022, in the VA Medical Center Hospice Unit at Big Spring after a short battle with bladder cancer. He was a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and a graveside celebration of his life will take place on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at 10:00 AM in the Military Section of Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens, San Angelo. Arrangements are by Harper Funeral Home of San Angelo. Cremains will be interred next to his beloved identical twin brother, Sergeant Robert Matthew Brunson, USMC. In keeping with his love for motorcycles and riding his own bike, his eulogy will be given by "biker preacher" Russ Frasier, per Mark's special request. Military Honors will follow.
Corporal Brunson was a veteran of the Vietnam Era and served in the Marine Corps from November 18, 1968 to February 21, 1972 in Company A, 3rd AmTrac Battalion, First Marine Division. He was crewman on the amphibian tractors (also called LVT's or Amtracs), the Marines' amphibious assault vehicle, that had the ability to travel both in and out of the water. He served at Camp Pendleton, CA, Camp LeJeune, NC, and Grenada. He was injured in a diving accident near Puerto Rico November 1, 1969, and flown to San Diego Naval Hospital, CA, where he would spend much of his tour due to his injuries. His experience in the Marines played a huge role in his life. He said the Marines taught him the value of discipline, teamwork, and investing in a cause greater than himself.
He was born August 1, 1949, in the old Clinic Hospital in San Angelo, along with his twin brother, to his parents, John Howard Brunson and Irene Farmer Brunson. He graduated in May, 1968 from Montrose High School, Montrose, CO, where he was on the football, basketball, and track teams. While living in Montrose, his dad, a steam pipe fitter, helped build the Marrow Point Dam. While growing up, the twins were called Andy and Bobby, then when they joined the Marines, they became Mark and Robert. Later, he was affectionately dubbed "Markie" by his postal friends. After discharge from the Marines, Mark studied different welding techniques at vocational schools in Austin, Corpus Christi, and Bellingham, WA. He worked as a welder for several years before going to work for the US Postal Service in San Angelo in 1986 and retiring in 2007. These years were spent downtown at the main post office as a mail processing clerk and dock expeditor, a job he truly loved. He volunteered as safety captain, arranged CPR classes and was on the medical response team. He especially enjoyed writing unique safety articles for the union newsletter and the camaraderie of his postal coworkers.
Mark was a private, sometimes reclusive and eccentric, gentle soul who loved his family and friends, the country life, gardening, riding his Harley, antique and junk stores, fishing, music, "fiddling" with old guitars, and all forms of art. He was very artistic, especially with his drawings and welding art. He loved planting beautiful flowers in his old wringer washing machine, clawfoot bathtub and other antique containers on his porch and in his yard. He always had lots of beautiful ivy growing in his home. His special loves were his "doggies," Harley the Bassett and Waylon the Lab, as he referred to them.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, grandparents Harvey and Edna Brunson, Robert and Sophie Farmer, and niece, Julie Jackson Richardson. He is survived by his sister, Jeanne Jackson, of San Angelo, three children, Jennifer Bolanos and husband Ruben, of Roswell, NM, Eric Sanders and wife, Hannah, of Bellingham, WA, and Amanda Medlock and husband, Randy, of Elk Grove, CA. He is also survived by his niece, Bonnie Alford and husband, David, of Carlsbad, NM, two nephews, Jerry D Jackson, Jr of San Angelo and Dustin Brunson of Richland. He is also survived by ten grandchildren, two great grandchildren, several cousins, four great nieces, three great-great nieces, and many friends, including his post office family. He will be greatly missed in our lives. Love you always, Mark Andy.
A Marine I was, a Marine I am,
A Marine I will always be
Until that day when I depart
This earth, it’s land, and sea!
SEMPER Fl
Graveside
Saturday, October 22, 2022
10:00AM
Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens
4989 FM Highway 1223
San Angelo, TX 76905
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