Markus Graham Ambrose

Markus Graham Ambrose, age 38, passed away on Wednesday, November 26 from suicide in his home in Riverton, Utah. He was born at home on June 15, 1987 in Sandy, Utah to Lynette and Graham Ambrose. He was the youngest of six children, and he loved his family very much.

Markus graduated from Jordan High School in 2005 and also attended Salt Lake Community College. During his time at both, and even before, he was very active in theatre and choir. He played the part of the baker in a production of Into the Woods, was a waiter in Hello Dolly, and participated in a play with his church called Promised Valley when he was only 10 or 11. He was in the Madrigals choir at Jordan and participated in the choir at SLCC as well. He had a beautiful voice.

On May 17, 2016, Markus married his sweetheart Kelly in the Salt Lake Temple. They worked hard to build their life together. They loved to go to movies and plays together, and explore the world around them. Kelly would often want to go somewhere to paint outside and Markus would come to sit alongside her, content to read a book and enjoy nature for a few hours.

He worked for the past 13 years in the insurance industry, and loved to help people through tough times and to be prepared for when those times would come. Most recently he worked as an insurance adjuster at Progressive Insurance, where he was valued for his dedication and kindness. Markus loved his job and his coworkers and found great satisfaction in sharing knowledge and helping his teammates succeed.

He was known for his thoughtful nature, his sense of humor, and the deep love he had for his family and pets. His two beloved cats, Coco and Harvey were a constant source of joy to him. He spent a lot of his time playing with and cuddling them. He and Kelly also fostered several kittens for the Humane Society and he found great joy in that, at least until it was time to give them back to find their forever homes. His love of animals ran deep and he enjoyed giving affection to any and every animal that he met.

Markus loved to play with his many nieces and nephews. He was referred to as the “funcle” and lived up to his name. He was the baby whisperer, the ultimate pillow, and could win anyone over. He had a habit of making faces at babies everywhere he went, and would make a new best friend by the end of any long line.

Markus is survived by his wife, Kelly Anne Ambrose, his cats Coco and Harvey, his mother Lynette Ambrose, siblings Denise (Lance) McCubbins, Robin (Nate) Kirkham, Heather (Ray) Kirby, Vanessa (Brian) Eborn, John (Jenny) Ambrose, mother-in-law Alice Peterson, siblings-in-law Whitney (Reid) Empey, Ryan Peterson, 20 nieces and nephews, many extended family members, and countless friends who cared for him. He was preceded in death by his father, Graham Ambrose, his father-in-law Robert Peterson, all four of his grandparents, and his four grandparents-in-law.

A wake will be held on Friday, December 5, at 6:00-8:00 pm and Saturday, December 6, 10:30-11:30 am at 12998 South 1300 West, Riverton, Utah, 84065. The funeral will be Saturday, December 6 at 12:00 with both in-person and virtual attendance options.

Guests may join via Zoom here:

https://churchofjesuschrist.zoom.us/j/95993902839?pwd=rGqem4XLn4DaANKrIXIP4C0Fq bGbRO.1

Or attend in person here: 12998 South 1300 West Riverton, Utah, 84065

Markus died by suicide, and his family shares this with tenderness and openness in the hope that it may encourage compassion, understanding, and support for others who may be struggling. If you or someone you love is experiencing thoughts of self-harm, please reach out for help. In the United States, you can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free and confidential support.

For those who wish to support Kelly during this time of loss, a GoFundMe has been set up:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-kelly-ambrose-in-her-time-of-loss

The family is deeply grateful for the love, prayers, and support offered during this profoundly difficult time.