Mark G Bellis

Mark G Bellis was born on February 24, 1951 in Appleton, Wisconsin to parents Merlin Bellis and Myrtle Jeanette Woodworth. He married Beverly Jean Ballard on January 6, 1973 and had three children: Christopher, Jason, and Leah Bellis. He later married Marla Jean Jenkins on August 26, 1983 and gained two stepdaughters: Kris and Kelly Jones.

Mark had a scientific mind, through which he gained professional success and personal hijinks. One of Mark’s most retold stories involved him experimenting with gunpowder in high school and nearly blowing off his leg. He managed to escape high school alive and graduate from college. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1979 and earned a second Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University at Buffalo in 1991. He was a Quality Control Manager at Rich Products, Quaker, Cousin Foods, and ConAgra Foods. He was a member of several professional organizations and continued his education for quality control in the food industry. In addition, he owned his own small business, Bellis Quality Systems, LLC, which managed a patent on his own invention of a can opener that cut the can lid below the rim.

Mark was well known for his sense of humor. He wore T-shirts with sarcastic and funny sayings. One of the most fitting T-shirts said, “People should seriously stop expecting normal from me…. We all know it’s never going to happen!” If Mark spoke a second language, it was sarcasm. He hated bad drivers and senseless bureaucracy, but he loved teasing his granddaughters and having family dinners.

Another of Mark’s qualities was love. His love for his wife, Marla, knew no bounds. He recently had a bench in a park near their house dedicated to Marla to express his love for her. He talked about a desire to have a ceremony to renew marital vows with Marla on their 40th wedding anniversary, which would have been this August. His loved his children and grandchildren. He spoke often of kayaking and other outdoor activities with his children in Wisconsin and kept pictures on his computer screen saver of these events. One of his last major acts in life was to walk his daughter Kelly down the aisle during her wedding.

Mark passed away suddenly on May 16, 2023. He will be sorely missed. Our hearts are forever changed at having known him.

Mark is survived by his wife, Marla; children Christopher, Jason (Donna), and Leah Bellis, Kris Szovati (Gabor), and Kelly Reynolds (Jim); sister Cindy Bellis-Krueger; grandchildren Celia, Ava, Lily, Joshua, Eliza, Amber, April, and Jonathan; and great-granddaughters Andrea and Everly.

A celebration of life for Mark will be held Saturday, June 10, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Residence of Marla Bellis, 265 W. Decatur Ave., Clovis, CA 93611.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the American Heart Association.

American Heart Association

PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692.