LAKEPORT, Calif. – Mark Lloyd Watson passed away in the beloved home he built himself on Monday evening, Nov. 13, 2013, on his farm in Lakeport.

He suffered a massive heart attack after a full day that included many of the things he loved most doing: clearing his land on his skid steer for a new vineyard, meeting and directing subcontractors towards commencement of a renovation project at one of his businesses, and spending time on the phone with friends and relatives discussing potential elk, “varmint” and predator hunts from his back porch at the end of the day.

Mark was born on March 24, 1949, to Lloyd and Eleanor Watson of Fortuna, Calif., who he always referred to as “the most wonderful parents a boy could have had.”

He graduated from the Fortuna Union High School Class of 1967 where he served as class president; class reunions – and the chance to catch up with beloved old friends – were a tremendous joy to him.

He began working for the late Jack Boyl (J.D. Boyl & Sons) of Fortuna, who became like a second father and mentor to him, in construction when he was only 13.

After attending College of the Redwoods and obtaining his associate's degree while working in construction full time, he obtained his general contractor’s and engineering license at a young age and started his own construction, land development and road construction business in Fortuna.

He built around 100 homes during this time as well as the physician office complex buildings at Redwood Memorial Hospital which was a special project for him. He was the rare type of contractor who was the first on the job site in every morning with his tool belt on and hammer in hand, leading by example.

In the 1990s he built, and continued to own and operate as managing partner, the Best Western Country Inn in Fortuna and the Best Western Bayshore Inn in Eureka.

Mark fell in love instantly with the hotel business, which he initially became interested in and learned about from his partner and father-in-law Ernest Weston, and soon became a highly respected regional Best Western “Governor.” He held that title he held for over two decades, during which time he was instrumental in working closely with the Best Western Board of Directors, raising the quality of the brand to the highly respected one it is today.

From 2002 to 2008 he conceived and built, with several other partners, and continued to own and operate as managing partner, the Hampton Inn, the Comfort Inn & Suites, and the Crush Restaurant building in Ukiah.

Mark touched and positively changed the lives of so many people in all walks of life – you know who you are: it did not matter if you were a carpenter or a company president, a mechanic, farm worker, or one of his many friends. He could be at turns encouraging and kind, or hard and uncompromising, because he could not and would not (at least for very long!) be around anyone who did not share his love of hard work and his ethic of getting anything and everything done as expediently and perfectly as possible-all with a large measure of fun included. Truly, scores of people loved and respected him as deeply as any man, ever, has been loved and respected.

Mark leaves behind his loving wife, Debra of Lakeport; his ex-wife, Jeanne (Elmer) Carson of Fortuna; his son, Steve (Sarah) Watson of Eureka; and daughters, Renee Watson and Alisa (Matt) Capik of Fortuna; well as grandchildren, Chad, Riley, Caleb, Aiden, Alison and Zane Watson, and James Watson-Capik and Emily Capik; his brother, Bruce Watson of Medford; and his in-laws, Ernest and Rena Weston.

He will be laid to rest at Sunrise Cemetery in Fortuna. Pallbearers will be Steve Watson, Rick Parcells, Rick Silvers, Joe Boyl, Chad Watson and Bruce Watson.

Please join his family in a celebration of his life at the Hydesville Community Church, 3296 Highway 36, Hydesville, CA, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 3 p.m., with a potluck gathering afterward. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Mark’s name to the Hydesville Community Church.