Mark Alan Hamilton , 55, of Huntsville, Alabama passed away in his home Thursday, April 20, 2017. Born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma on May 11, 1961, to James and Virginia Hamilton, Mark was passionate about music, art, jewelry, photography, animals, nature, and travel. Mark always embraced life to the fullest and traveled to many exotic countries, with Bangkok, Thailand being one of his favorite. Mark was a cutting-edge entrepreneur with a passion for beautiful rocks. As he traveled the world, he found and brought home, the most exquisite collection of rocks and crystals and had them beautifully displayed in his home. He was a self-taught expert and could tell detailed stories about their qualities and where and how he came to find each one.
As a child, Mark called Wheaton, Illinois home where he eventually graduated from Wheaton Warrenville High School in 1979. Mark then headed to Canton, Missouri to attend Culver-Stockton College where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, and Psychology in 1984. Mark was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity where he formed friendships that would last his lifetime.
Mark’s love for his alma mater led him to serve as a member of the alumni board for several years and he felt it was his honor to do so. After college, Mark returned to the Chicagoland area to work for C. Cretors and Company (the original inventors of the popcorn machine) for 11 years where he rose to be Regional Sales Manager for the Eastern Territory. This position was perfect for him as it sent him on many adventures all around the country and he met many famous movie stars, a perk that he enjoyed. Following a successful tenure at C. Cretors, Great Western Products recruited Mark to work as their National Sales Manager and Director of Sales and Marketing, to supply concession items to movie theaters across the nation, another position that he enjoyed. Mark was an incredibly successful salesman with a larger-than-life personality that endeared him to his many friends, business colleagues, and customers alike. Mark truly had never met a stranger. With his spontaneous nature and quick wit he made friends easily and kept them forever. Mark had loving and generous heart and shared it openly with his friends and family. You could not sit and have a conversation with him without hearing about how proud he was and how much he loved his family and friends. He especially loved spoiling his nieces and nephews and was very proud of each and every one of them.
Mark is survived by his parents, James and Virginia Hamilton of Centerton, AR; a brother, Mike and his wife Kathleen of Huntington Beach, CA; a sister, Melissa (Hamilton) Varady and her husband Scott of Fayetteville, AR; nephews Bo Hamilton of Fountain Valley, CA; Nathan Varady of Boston, MA; and niece Lauren Parent and her husband, Daric and their children, Jackson, Andrew, and Fiona of Rowlett, TX; and niece Emily Varady of Fayetteville, AR. Mark and his family are forever grateful for his best friend Cheryl Knapp of Des, Moines, IA for showing him the same unconditional love his family had for him throughout his lifetime.
A private graveside service for the family will be held in Macedonia Cemetery in Holly Grove, Arkansas.
“Open your eyes Look up to the sky and see…” Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen – Freddy Mercury-1975
Memorial gifts, in Mark’s honor may be made to Culver-Stockton College Scholarship Fund. https://secure.culver.edu/supportcsc/online/gf2_campaign.asp
