VERHOVEN, Mark Jay

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 10/07/2005 Mark Jay Verhoven, 48, died suddenly in his sleep due to complications from a former spinal cord injury which caused him to be a quadriplegic. Mark was born Aug. 29, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois. He and his family moved to Glendale when he was 12 years old. He graduated from Glendale High School in 1975. He loved the outdoors, animals and kids. Prior to his accident, his hobbies included riding his motorcycle and helping others fix or build anything and everything. He was always there to come to the rescue. Mark was an MP in the Air Force for approx. 15 years. He then worked as a paramedic in Phoenix for three years. He moved to Show Low in 1997 and eventually injured his back and started receiving disability. He quit working at a very young age. In April 2004 he was in a bad car accident and was diagnosed as a quadriplegic and was determined to return to his home in Show Low. He is survived by his daughter Andrea Verhoven of Flagstaff; mother Vernadell Verhoven and stepfather Luis Larson of Glendale; father Robert Verhoven of Chicago, Ill.; elder brother Alan Verhoven of Glendale and one younger brother Gary Verhoven also of Glendale. A memorial service will be held Monday, Oct. 10 at White Mountain Methodist Church located at 261 N. 5th St. in Show Low at 4 p.m.