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Mark Peterson '82 January 25, 2023 3:23 PM updated: January 25, 2023 3:28 PM

Mark Nelson Peterson

July 14, 1958 - December 26, 2022

Mark Nelson Peterson passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, December 26th, 2022. On Christmas evening, a few hours earlier, he had enjoyed a wonderful gathering of family and friends in his home.

Born in Tyler, Texas on July 14, 1958, to Michael John Peterson, Jr. and Margaret Sommers Peterson, Mark spent the majority of his life as a proud Houstonian. He attended Briargrove Elementary, T.H. Rogers Junior High, and in 1976 graduated from Robert E. Lee High School.

Mark was an avid sports enthusiast, both as participant and observer. As a young boy, he was the Most Valuable Player of the undefeated city-wide champion Briargrove Bears youth football team. He continued playing other sports through high school, including varsity football during his senior year.

Following his high school graduation Mark entered Texas A&M University, graduating in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree. There has never been a more proud or loyal Aggie than Mark Peterson. Mark was one of a kind, the epitome of what it meant to be an Aggie. At TAMU Mark was involved in many activities as a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, but since he was a big, strong guy, he was also a part-time bouncer at the Dixie Chicken eatery. After a chance meeting with A&M football coach Tom Wilson, Mark became team manager for a season. And a favorite pastime while in College Station was serving as a taster for Blue Bell Ice Cream.

As the only Aggie in a family of Longhorns (both parents, sister, brother, etc.) he reveled in all aspects of the Aggie-Longhorn rivalry, and was looking forward to the Longhorns joining the SEC. Symbolic of this family rivalry was the desktop-sized statue of a crow painted in the color of the most recent winner of the A&M-UT football game, but held during the intervening year by the loser.

Due to a debilitating brain disease he experienced as a young adult, Mark became a wheelchair- bound paraplegic for the last 40 years of his life. His grit, determination, and incredibly positive outlook were an inspiration to all who knew him. Mark rarely complained about his lot in life. Instead, he did his best to bring a smile to the face of all he met. He endured his health struggles for many years, primarily concerned with the well-being of family and friends. Evidence of this was his organization of and participation in an after-hours exercise program at TIRR (Texas Institute for Rehabilitation and Research) in Houston.

Perhaps the part of Mark Peterson that was most important to him was his spiritual side. He recognized that he had a calling from his heavenly Father to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ in whatever way he was able, which mainly took the form of caring for others. To answer this call, Mark took the demanding course in one-on-one pastoral care offered by the Stephen Ministry. Requiring 50 hours of training over five months, becoming a Stephen Minister requires a great deal of both energy and determination. Although Mark's mobility issues made typical Stephen Ministry assignments difficult, he excelled at bringing pastoral care to parishioners from his church, St. John the Divine, who were in the hospitals of Houston. With a partner to provide transportation, Mark visited those from St. John's who were spending their days in a place with which he had great familiarity. Nothing made him happier than an afternoon where he could visit, listen to, and pray with those whose spirits had been sagging before he arrived. And on his way home from the Texas Medical Center all he wanted to talk about was the wonderful feeling he had experienced in helping those whom he met there. His faith in Jesus Christ was deep and abiding, and manifest through what he was doing to answer his call.

Mark is survived by his mother, Margaret Sommers Thompson of Houston, his sister Susan Peterson Klein and husband Michael Klein of Austin; nieces Katherine Klein and Allison Klein of Houston; niece Christine Peterson Grogan and husband Reed Grogan of Denver; nephew Michael John Peterson IV and wife Krista; and many first cousins. He was predeceased by his father Michael John Peterson Jr. and brother Michael John Peterson III.

After Mark's father died, the late Sophus Thompson assumed the role of father to Mark after his marriage to Mark's mother. Sophus was extremely close to Mark, providing him a wonderful friend, mentor, and role model. They loved one another deeply, each would have done anything for the other.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to Gil Sanchez, Carlotta Flowers, Homero Ayala, Ana Rodes, and Fernando Lara for their loyalty, friendship, and dedicated care over the years.

A memorial service for Mark will be held on Tuesday, January 10th, 2023, at 3:00 pm at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family kindly requests donations be made to St. John the Divine Episcopal Church; 2450 River Oaks Blvd; Houston, TX 77019.



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