Marcus "Markie" Aurelio Barbosa

Weslaco/San Antonio- Marcus Aurelio Barbosa II "Markie" passed away suddenly in a tragic one-car accident on Friday, September 3rd, 2021.

Marcus was born on May 26th,1996, to Marcus Aurelio and Lizvia Rodriguez Barbosa in McAllen, Texas. Marcus was a big brother to Khora, a responsibility that he didn't take lightly. He was always there for his baby sister, and their bond just grew stronger throughout life.

From the time Marcus was a toddler, he was fascinated by nature, in particular, trees. He loved the Earth and the environment and was thankful to God for creating such a beautiful masterpiece. Markie loved trees so much, he dressed up as a fern for Halloween when he was a child. His childhood birthdays usually included a nature theme like twisters, trees, and palm trees. Marcus was artistic by nature, and he loved to paint and draw. He was very talented and expressed himself brilliantly with his drawings. Marcus was also fascinated by architecture. He admired the beauty of creative big cities, the uniqueness of antique buildings, and towering skyscrapers. Marcus loved studying meteorology and was fascinated by weather patterns, tropical storms, tornadoes, and other natural disasters. He was definitely content admiring and photographing the outdoors and appreciated God's miracles. Marcus had an unwavering faith in Christ, and he depicted his belief in his artwork and writing.

Markie moved to the Weslaco School District in elementary and was a 2014 graduate of Weslaco High School. In 2020, he earned his Bachelor's Degree of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Markie's mom custom-ordered his class ring to include his Tree of Promise medallion he wore daily, and his art piece of the Lord's hands cradling the Earth harmed by humans. Markie's passion for the environment only grew. He was an advocate for urban sustainability and wanted to find a way to make urban areas more environmentally friendly, more socially inclusive, and self-sustainable.

In May of 2021, Markie landed his dream job as an Arborist, PHC Specialist, "Tree Doctor" at Bartlett Tree Experts. The Bartlett family has cared for the environment for over a hundred years, so Markie was honored to make a three-hour daily commute. Markie's territory in the Hill Country included homes and ranches of the rich and famous with beautiful landscaping packed with mature trees. Sadly, it was one of his daily journeys through his territory that Markie's earthly journey ended instantly.

Markie was a kind, soft-spoken, and gentle soul. He was a man of few words, but his artwork spoke volumes. Marcus left a legacy of several lifetimes. Though his earthly life seems way too short, Markie is undoubtedly basking in paradise and drawing the most magnificent mansions and landscapes he could have imagined.

Marcus is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Leonel Rodriguez, paternal grandfather, Aurelio Barbosa Jr.

He is survived by his maternal grandmother, Luisa Rodriguez, paternal grandmother, Mary Ann Barbosa, parents, Marcus Aurelio and Lizvia "Libby" Barbosa, sister, Khora Barbosa, aunts, Lilia De Los Santos, Lorena Cantu (Gustavo "Gus"), Mary "Jude" Cocio (Mark), uncles, Leonel Rodriguez (Ruth), and Omar Franco Barbosa (Susana), all from Weslaco, and numerous cousins, his cat Eden, and, of course, all his plants that fit in his modest San Antonio apartment balcony.

Visitation will be Friday, September 10th, 10 am-9 pm at McCaleb Funeral Home in Weslaco, with a rosary at 7 pm, followed by a time for sharing memories. Mass will be celebrated at 11 am on Saturday, September 11th, 2021, at St. Pius X Catholic Church followed by a gathering at McCaleb Funeral Home. Serving as pallbearers will be Lucio Campos, Elias Garcia, Gustavo Cantu, Matthew Cantu, Joel De Los Santos, and Omar Franco Barbosa Jr.. Burial will be private.