Ricardo "Rick" Marques Jr.
September 7, 1968 ~ July 21, 2022
Ricardo "Rick" Marques Jr., age 53, of New Braunfels, Texas, met Our Lord Jesus Christ on Thursday, July 21, 2022 after a brief battle with cancer. Ricardo was born to Ricardo Marques Sr. and Linda Gates Gurnee in Holland, Michigan.
Rick grew up in Connecticut and later joined the United States Marine Corp proudly serving our country four years. For the next 30 years Rick worked in different roles with increasing responsibility across the country within the United States Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons. Most recently he served as the Warden of the Big Spring federal prison retiring in June 2021. He enjoyed a round of golf, riding his Harley, enjoying his right to bear arms, cheering on his New York Yankees and Giants and antagonizing Cowboys fans. Rick was looking forward to transitioning from government work after retirement to a full-time Pops which brought him the most joy in life and traveling with his wife.
Ricardo is survived by his wife Melissa Valdez Marques; his children Amanda Marie Herron (Tanner) of Tennessee, Felisha Long of New Braunfels, Richard Dean Marques of Connecticut, and Rachel Mire (Brent) of Louisiana; his grandchildren Noah, Emorie, Enslie, Ella, Emelia, Josie, Levi, Maesie, Laila, and Colette; his father Ricardo Marques Sr. (Cora) of Michigan and mother Linda Gates Gurnee (Allen) of North Carolina; his siblings Jose Luis Marques (April) of Michigan, Randy Marques of North Carolina, Burton Gates (Cara) of Pennsylvania, Crystal Cambisaca (Eliadio) of North Carolina, Rebecca Gurnee of North Carolina, Sylvia Segovia (Izzy) of Michigan, Melynda Marques-Knowles (Cory) of Michigan, and Elizabeth Marques of Michigan. He will be missed by numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.
A Visitation will be held on Monday, July 25, 2022 from 11:00am-1:00pm at Lux Funeral Home, New Braunfels, Texas; followed by a Memorial Service at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Rick be made to a cause near to his heart - American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (https://afsp.org/).
Condolences can be sent to Melissa Rios-Marques at 1943 Brandywine Dr. New Braunfels TX 78130.
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Lux Funeral Home & Cremation Services
To Melissa and the family, we are sorry for the loss of such a great man. He was loved by many. We pray for you as god heals your pain. Love you
With heartfelt condolences from your Pensacola family. Chuck and Tammy
Don’t make Jesus invoke his rights anytime soon. But we cant wait to see you again. With all our hearts boss, we love you!
Ms. Rios, Wishing you and your family peace, courage, comfort, and lots of loving during this very difficult time.
May you find peace in knowing you are all in our thoughts and prayers. E ho’omaha me ke Aloha a me ke Akua….
Sincere condolences – thoughts and prayers are with you.
I pray the Lord’s Grace and tender Mercies be upon you and the sweet memories of Rick’s life bring Comfort and Joy to your soul.
Thankful for his friendship and service in both the USMC and BOP. Great memories will forever live with me. God Bless all his family and friends.
Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts.
Our deepest sympathy –
I have so many special memories with Rick and our friendship. I was not only my friend, but my mentor. I will miss him so very much. Our deepest sympathy to Melissa and the rest of the family
Deepest sympathy to you and the family. We wish we could be there for you. Please know you are in our thoughts everyday.
Our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. Cool Rick you will be truly missed.
Condolences to family and friends: “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. There is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31). Hand salute. Semper Fi Warden Marques. Chaplain Facchinello
To my mentor and friend, We Loved you dearly, The World is less without you in it. And we are all greater for having Loved you. God Speed.
My deepest condolences. God Bless Melissa and your family. Love You my Sweet Friend
My deepest condolences to all. May God’s love and mercy bring him eternal peace and rest. My thoughts and prayers are with you always. Much love.
Ricky will be remembered forever. So glad that I got to spend childhood years around him. Rest easy my friend.
RIP Brother. Your huge personality and smile will be forever missed.
Rest in paradise brother, thank you for always being there 🙏 and providing us guidance when needed the most. I could honestly say our conversations meant the most and I’m sure to a lot of us you touched. You inspired a lot of us to be the greatest we can be. Semper FI
Our thoughts and prayers are with you Melissa…sending you and your family strength and love during this very difficult time. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Daniel and Sandra (Hijar) Leydon
Please accept my most heartfelt sympathies for your loss… My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Dear Melissa and Marques family. We are so sorry for your tremendous loss. Rick was a funny, strong, and great all around guy. God give you His peace.
Chaplain Facchinello and I, his wife arrived at BOP in Big Springs, TX one year and a half ago. Rick you were so kind, loving and caring towards us. You have us a warm welcome that touched our hearts. You mentioned to my husband to bring me back to give a tour of the facility. We were so overjoyed. The next day you asked a lady to give us a tour of the facility. The last time we saw you was at your retirement ceremony. So glad to have met an incredible soul. We send our deepest condolences to your family at this difficult time. May God be with your family. And we will see you in heaven.
Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts.
Melissa and family, Holding each of you close in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. May the comfort of God and the many memories of Rick help you find strength, courage and peace. Rick will be dearly missed… With heartfelt sympathy and lots of love, JoAnn and Ray Hinkle
Our deepest sympathy
Love from your Delta brothers Hamden CT. Love you, God bless. -Mark Ferraro
Rest In Peace my friend.
Sending our deepest condolences. Our prayers are with you and the family. Our brother Rick will be greatly missed. He was a true DevilDog! Corr Svcs
Way too early for such a great man like Rick! He deserved the best in life as he was a great friend, co-worker and the list goes on and on and on! All my condolences to Melissa and the rest of the family! RIP brother, I will never forget you or all the great things you did! James Fosnot
We are thinking of you during this difficult time.
I love you my Brother.
With our deepest condolences, Paul Cole and Family
Ricardo Marques Jr. brought so many gifts to our life. We will never forget him. We love you Rick
With love from Marquez family – Tios Frutoso and Mirna, Cousins Sofia And Armando and Danelle.
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss… Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. We will miss Rick!
Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss… Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Our brother, our friend, until we meet again. You will be missed. Shawn and Missy Grant
With deepest sympathy from Reguladores LEMC National Chapter
Melissa and family you all are in our prayers may God strengthen you through these times of sorrow.
Please accept my most sincere condolences at this time of grief in your family. May this be a time when you support one another and when memories of sweet times together over the years are a tender comfort. You and your loved ones are in my prayers. Respectfully, Ms.Belmontes
We are so sorry about your loss. Ricardo was a great man and will be missed. Sending our condolences to you and your family.
We send our deepest condolences for your family’s immeasurable loss. You will remain in our prayers for strength, hope, and peace. Warmly, Brittany Winters and Rigo Curiel
With love from Aunt Mary and Uncle Tino.
Gone to soon! Rick you will be missed!!! Melissa and entire family please accept our sincere condolences.
Rest well, my friend. God’s blessings to your family as they both morn and celebrate your life.
We are deeply sorry for your loss. We pray the love of God enfolds you during your journey through grief.
I am so sorry to hear of Rick’s passing. I’ve known him since our days working at the ADX. He always had a smile or a laugh which was genuine and infectious. I will miss that.