Mark Peirce Snyder passed away on June 9, 2022 at the age of 71, after a short battle with cancer.
Mark was born on March 25, 1951 to Jack Jean Snyder and Barbara Gae Peirce in San Pedro, California, and grew up in Harbor City, in a life of freedom and adventure. All of Mark’s childhood stories revolve around learning and adventure. After spending an extended amount of time living with his maternal grandparents during his mother’s illness with polio, he developed a special bond with his grandfather and could be found there almost every day of the week.
After high school, Mark joined the US Army (’71-’73), training as a signalman and paratrooper, and eventually volunteering for the US Army Special Forces, serving during the Vietnam War. Upon discharge from the Army, Mark began attending school at Los Angeles Harbor City College. He left his studies to serve a two year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, called to labor in the Mexico City, Mexico mission (’73-’76), where he learned to love people and follow God, unwaveringly, planting the seeds for a long life of discipleship and learning to be dedicated to God.
Returning from his mission, Mark attended more college classes, studying everything from accounting to pre-law, before leaving school for work to support his growing family. Mark married Karen Peterson in the Los Angeles Temple on June 25, 1977, settling in Torrance, California, before moving to Palmdale, California in 1987. Together, they had five children: Michael (’78), Sjauna (’79), Andrew (’84), Aaron (’86), and James (’88), before divorcing in 1998.
Mark’s hard work and dedication to everything he did, working to support his family, quickly earned him notoriety, as he advanced from proofreading at Hufstedler, Miller, Carlson & Beardsley to Director of Information Systems and Vice President of Technology, working at several firms, including Sachs & Phelps, Latham & Watkins, Evernet, Ernst & Young, Ken Leventhal & Company, City National Bank, and eventually striking out on his own as a consultant, as a well seasoned expert in what he termed as, “solving problems.”
Eventually, Mark left his lucrative career, southern California, and his family and moved to Stinson Beach, California (’99), where he came to work at Stinson Beach Market and was able to devote all of his free time to building a relationship with God, learning from God, and teaching anyone who would listen about God, including over 5,000 emails to his children.
He retired from the market in 2021 and moved to Ephraim, Utah, closer to family in the Wasatch Front, where he enjoyed writing, meditating, gardening, learning to cook some delicious meals, and enjoying the finer things in life, like his Tatton Baird hat, home smoked brisket, and his favorite past time of being outdoors and walking in nature.
Mark learned everything he could, worked hard at everything he did, and persevered through some difficult challenges. He lived a life of integrity in what he understood, in his core, to be correct principles, regardless of what anyone else believed and notwithstanding the sometimes negative consequences to long term relationships in this life. He died confidently and peacefully, ready to meet the loved ones waiting to greet him.
Mark is preceded in death by his father, mother, and sister-in-law, Linda (Craig). He is survived by his siblings: Karna (Rick) Zierden, Craig (DoriAnn), and Jack (Angie), his children: Michael (Samantha), Sjauna (David) Schorr, Andrew, Aaron, and James (Michele), as well as many grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
