WHEATLAND – Mark Wilson Jones passed away peacefully on May 13th, 2021, at the age of 67. He was born in Casper on August 11th, 1953, and spent every summer of his youth at his favorite place in the world: the Jones family ranch on the North Laramie River. He grew up in Wheatland and attended Wheatland High School and the University of Arizona, where he majored in photography.
Mark was an avid outdoorsman and athlete who enjoyed fly fishing, horseshoes, golf and outrigger canoeing, and relished the time he spent in nature with his family and many friends. An accomplished restaurateur, Mark managed the opening of world-class restaurants in many spectacular locations throughout Hawaii, Montana and California.
His career began on the island of Maui, where he managed restaurants for the legendary TS Restaurant Group and oversaw operations for the restaurant at the iconic Kapalua Golf Course. He then moved his family to Montana, where he opened a gorgeous restaurant on Flathead Lake in Kalispell. Mark and his family eventually settled in north county San Diego, where Mark took on the role of West Coast Regional Manager for Rock Bottom Restaurants for many years.
Mark's greatest pride and joy were his sons Tanner and Colter, to whom he passed on his passion for life, creativity and reverence for nature. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends and all those whose lives he touched with his laughter, brilliantly sarcastic sense of humor, authenticity and generosity.
Mark is preceded in death by his father, William R. Jones, his brothers, Todd and Scott, and his youngest son, Colter. Mark is survived by his mother, Jeanne, and his son, Tanner. Condolences can be sent to jonestannert@gmail.com.
