Leslie Earl Mark was born in Rochester, Vt. as the youngest of 14 children. In his life’s journey, he lived in Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, India, California, Guadalajara, Mexico and finally, in Fresno, California.

Leslie was a graduate of the New England School of Theology, and Gordon Divinity School with advanced studies in the University of Guadalajara, Mexico. He served faithfully and enthusiastically as a pastor (student pastor in Mechanic Falls, Maine; Concord, N.H.; Rochester, N.H.; pastor of Tustin AC Church, Tustin, Calif.), missionary (in Guadalajara for the Advent Christian Church to work with university students), mentor and university professor, the last most notably teaching classes at the University of Guadalajara and as a long-time faculty member of Fresno Pacific University. Prolific in English and Spanish, Leslie loved and served communities in Mexico and both language communities in the United States.

A practitioner of the Socratic Method, Leslie was noted for encouraging critical thoughtfulness by asking carefully constructed questions that served to encourage independent intelligence and personal responsibility. He loved God and all of God’s creation with great passion and sought the “temporal and eternal best good” of everyone. Every day he would greet someone with, “Have a great forever!” And he meant it.

Leslie Graduated from this life, as he would say, following his beloved wife, Erlene, who preceded him in death in 2002.

He moved on peacefully and in the company of his sons and their wives, David and Wendy, and Steven and Barbara. He left six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, whom he loved with joy and tenderness. He also leaves behind his brother, David C. Mark, the next to the last born of the 14 children.

All who were blessed by Leslie Mark are cordially invited to a memorial celebration in his honor at Bethany Mennonite Brethren Church, 9161 North Maple Ave., Fresno, CA 93720, on Saturday, March 11, 2017, at 11:00 a.m.

As would be expected, Leslie wrote and organized the entire memorial celebration himself as a witness to hope in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Todos aquellos que fueron bendecidos por Leslie Mark están invitados cordialmente a una celebración memorial en su honor en el lugar y la hora arriba mencionado.

Soli Deo Gloria