Marcus "Mark" Brown Donoho Jr.

Marcus Brown Donoho, Jr. was born on July 18, 1944, in Fort Worth, TX to Elizabeth Jane Epperson and Marcus Brown Donoho, Sr. At the time of Mark’s birth, his father, a US Army Air Corps pilot, was a WWII Prisoner-of-War at Camp Stalag Luft III in occupied Poland. Once he returned from the war, the family would live in several places including El Paso, TX and Birmingham, AL before they eventually settled in Houston, TX.

Mark graduated from Spring Branch Senior High School in Houston, TX in 1962, and earned his BBA from Texas Christian University in 1966. Upon graduation from TCU, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. He then accepted a job with Mercantile National Bank which took him to Dallas, TX where he met his future wife of 53 years, Janet Jenkins. They were married in 1970 at Highland Park United Methodist Church where they have remained members to this day.

Mark went to work for Dallas Federal Savings & Loan, which was the beginning of a new and successful career in real estate appraisal, evaluation, and investments eventually leading to the founding of Mark Donoho Company in 1989. Janet and Mark welcomed their daughter, Tracey, in 1972 and their son, Alan, in 1975. Together, they raised their children in the Park Cities and greatly enjoyed all the traditional activities the neighborhood offered, especially those centered around the Park Cities YMCA’s youth sports programs and swimming pool. The photography Mark would take of his children’s games and events and his nightly swimming regime were the beginnings of two lifelong passions.

A dedicated athlete, Mark loved to compete in swim meets, bicycle races, triathlons, marathons, and dozens of smaller competitive events. He even participated on an international relay team in Ireland and on a winning relay team for the Maui Channel Swim. He was also an avid photographer. People rarely saw Mark without his camera in tow, and he especially delighted in taking pictures of his children and grandchildren (Jack, Will, and Claire Kozmetsky) and was known for never missing one of their games or special events. He simply adored being a grandfather and was proud to be their “Papa.”

It was important to Mark that his family understand and appreciate their Texas roots, beginning with Captain William Ware who fought in the Battle of San Jacinto and settled the community of Waresville in 1852, known today as Utopia, TX. Sweltering summers were spent on the rope swing hanging from the tall cypress trees along the Sabinal River on the original family homestead. His final resting place will be alongside his Texas ancestors in the historic Waresville Cemetery.

Mark is survived by his wife, Janet, his daughter Tracey Donoho Kozmetsky and her husband, Aaron Kozmetsky; his son, Alan Marcus Donoho; his grandchildren, Jack Ware Kozmetsky, William George Kozmetsky, and Claire Keaton Kozmetsky; his siblings Janie Donoho Frere and Liz Donoho Norman, both of Kyle, TX; his step-mother Glenda Donoho of Pearl, MS; his nephews David Olive and his wife, Iona, Shane Norman and his wife, Sasha, and Dax Norman and many great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elizabeth Epperson Donoho Bowman and Marcus Brown Donoho, Sr., both of Houston, TX.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation or the charity of your choice.