Mark Thomas Highfield

Mark was born in Aurora, Colorado and moved with the family as an infant to Houston, Texas. He graduated from Hastings High School in 1998 where he played soccer and was involved in various school activities. Mark attended the University of Texas in Austin, majoring in Microbiology with one year remaining to achieve his degree. He truly excelled in everything he did. He was a champion goalie, but could play any position in soccer with many teams, venturing off at 10 years of age to play in the Norway Cup as well as winning University of Texas Club Team tournaments. His love for sports was so evident; racquetball, soccer, scratch golfer, kayaking for red fish at the coast, snow and wake boarding, all complemented his athletic ability. He reached the brown belt level in karate as a young teenager. In this he was thrilled to teach others so they could excel as well. He was an accomplished guitar player and shared this gift by teaching others. He even enjoyed "open mic night" much to the delight of those in attendance. He also brought zest to a regular dish with his culinary interests and abilities. That zest was Mark. He demanded the best in all he did. His friends describe him as a brother to everybody and loved to laugh with him. Mark was so talented and magnetic. His giving and caring nature, compassionate heart toward kids and helping friends get through a tough time even in his difficulties exemplified Mark. He loved nature from the beauty of a flower or sunset, to the wave on the beach even to the heights of the Colorado Rockies. Mark's adventuresome sprit took him on many trips to Costa Rica where he surfed until sundown. The fullness of nature in Costa Rica so impressed him he wanted to spend as much time as he could experiencing the jungle, beach, playing soccer with the kids, or just sitting around the fire at night with his friends. Mark's life journey was not without God. Mark is survived by his sisters, Heidi and Erin of Austin, father Tom Highfield and wife Susan of Fort Worth, mother Mitzi Hendrix and husband Jim of Houston, and grandparents, aunts, uncles, and many cousins from Colorado and beyond.