William Owen Marks

Born: July 26, 1941 - Passed: January 15, 2025

On  July 26, 1941 Owen and Jean Marks brought a new life into their world. They named him William Owen and he joined two sisters, Beverly Jean and Bettylou. A few years later Owen and Jean were surprised with twins, a son, Joseph, and a daughter, JoAnne, completing the Marks family.

Billy, as he was called, thrived in a home that encouraged his interests. He loved playing all games and excelled at every physical endeavor. His innate abilities and love of competition only increased as he matured. When he was of middle school age, he played baseball and basketball with the high school kids. His favorite sport was the one in season. His father supported his love of sports by constructing a track on the family-owned airport since the school didn't have one and Bill wanted to run. High school brought more opportunities to participate in sports year round, and he did. Four years of football, basketball, track, and baseball fostered many wonderful memories as Bill earned 15 varsity letters.

Upon graduation, he played professional baseball in the Washington Senators farm system. He really enjoyed spending his days with guys that loved the game as much as he did but, his career was cut short when he suffered an injury that turned serious and sent him home on crutches.

Next he enrolled at Western Michigan University to earn a degree in Education with a minor in coaching.  While at WMU, he was set up on a blind date by mutual friends and met Nancy.  The pair married in 1964 and celebrated 60 years together last August.  Their son William Douglas (Chip) was born in 1971 and their daughter Amanda Lynn in 1973.

Bill enjoyed a 36 year long commitment to teaching and coaching.  Along the way he taught everything from Michigan History to Advanced Mechanical Drafting. He added Driver's Education as a sidelight and of course he coached -football, basketball, wrestling, track, softball, golf, and baseball. During the summers, he coached Chip’s baseball teams too. He never questioned how much he was making per hour.  That wasn't why he was doing it. His teams won conference championships, received regional honors, and he was inducted into the Lawton Blue Devil Hall of Fame. He appreciated the accolades, but the competition and the kids were his main concern.

Shortly after he retired, his first grandson, Owen was born and two years later, Will arrived. Having grandsons changed his life. Now winters and springs were spent in Texas enjoying the time spent with his boys. He loved to play games with them, teach them skills, watch them participate in sports, and just be Grandpa. Bill truly valued his close relationship with his grandsons.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, JoAnne. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, son Chip, daughter Amanda and son-in-law Mike Trimble, grandsons Owen and Will Trimble, sister and brother-in-law Beverly and Ted Tyler, sister Bettylou Wragg, brother and sister-in-law Joe and Sue Marks, sister-in-law Katherine Yoder, uncle Don Marks, and several cousins, nephews and nieces.

A Memorial Gathering is scheduled for May 24, 2025 from 1:00- 4:00 p.m., at his home at 1147 Maynard Rd, Portland, MI.  All who knew Bill and want to join us as we remember and celebrate his life are welcome.  In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to either the Pewamo-Westphalia Athletic fund (envelopes available at the gathering) or to the Lawton Blue Devil Athletic fund c/o Lawton Athletic Boosters, PO Box 39, Lawton, MI  49065 or Venmo @LawtonAthleticBoosters. Online condolences may be made at www.lehmanfuneralhomes.com.

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