Mark Coxon

On Saturday, January 28th, 2023, Mark Harold Coxon passed away at age 67. Mark is survived by his two daughters, Cheyenne and Joie, and their mother, Jennifer, as well as his niece, Kris Coxon Ewing and her family. Mark grew up in Santa Barbara. In the early 1980’s, he bought a house in Santa Ynez, where he lived and worked as an expert union plumber, welder, and pipe-fitter for the rest of his life. Mark was a loyal friend, proud and loving father, and an active member of multiple communities and organizations across the Santa Ynez Valley. He has an extensive chosen family.

His ability to make friends wherever he went gave his family no end of entertainment. Once he disappeared at the Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno and they discovered later that he’d met a family from Missouri in the lobby of their hotel and spent all night bowling with them. Mark was a natural storyteller, quick to laugh, and the first to roll up his sleeves and rally the gang for a friend in need. At gatherings and celebrations, he could usually be found manning the barbeque. He was instigator and organizer of group adventures throughout his life. An avid outdoorsman, he captained rafts on the Snake, Salmon, and Colorado Rivers, fished too many lakes, streams, rivers, and ocean spots to name, and loved riding dirt bikes, waterskiing, and hunting. He cherished annual trips to his favorite place, Eagle Lake.

Mark’s loved ones continue to appreciate his talent for bringing people together as we support each other during this time. His family invites all who wish to celebrate Mark to attend his funeral at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Ballard, CA on Friday, February 17th at noon, and his celebration of life at the Jacobson Dairy Equine Center in Santa Ynez on Saturday, February 18th at noon. Those who feel moved to contribute something in Mark’s honor are encouraged to donate to the Wounded Warrior Project, which he supported for many years.