Obituary of Bernard Leroy Marques

Bernard “Leroy” Marques, age 62, of Commerce City, Colorado passed away peacefully surrounded by his best friend and children, on March 25th, 2023. Leroy was born July 23rd, 1960, to Raynaldo and Mary Marques in Denver, Colorado. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Sam and sister Donna. He is survived by his best friend Lisa Wheeler and their five children Stephanie, Amber, Justin, Emily and Maddison and their bonus daughter Jazmyn. His son in-laws William, Raymond, and Joseph. His grandchildren Trinity, Isiah, Destiny, Aaliyah, Leroy, Lillianna, Mary Luna, Deliliah, Maliyah, David, Daxton, and Amariah Rose. His brothers Larry and Monte, and sisters Elaine, Rebecca, and Laura. Along with twenty-one nieces and nephews and twenty-four great nieces and nephews. 

Let me tell you about OUR best friend.  Leroy was a lifelong resident of Commerce City, Colorado and grew up there when it was still a farming community. He was a 1978 Adams City High School graduate. After high school, Leroy began racing at Bandimere speedway with his friends. When they started racing together, they had an old “Lumbering Chevy Truck'', they eventually moved up to the fancy drag cars you see racing down the strip today.  Leroy also LOVED bowling, every Thursday night religiously.  He won multiple tournaments and even earned the nickname THE BIG YANK during his 299 game, a big deal if you know bowling.  He worked at Cummins as a PMR inside sales coordinator for the last seventeen years. 

Leroy adored his family; the family who made him, the family he made for himself, and all the other chosen families he came across during his journeys. He and his best friend Lisa took in four children from broken loveless homes and taught them the meaning of love and family. In 2000 he and Lisa gave their children the ultimate gift, a baby sister. Leroy was the biggest supporter of everyone he met, especially his family.  He took his kids to band practice, football games, fundraisers, baseball games, Spice Girls concerts, drove them to and from prom, wrestling matches, and any other school function. He was also known to take the kids on road trips and even a Spice Girls concert.  He loved spending his days with his family; at the races with his nephews and great nephew, building fences with his brother, fixing cars for his nieces or teaching his daughters to drive.  He was always there for his family, graduations, anniversaries, BBQ’s, birthdays, weddings, and even wedding pep talks. He was a gentle giant that babies and toddlers gravitated towards, especially during nap time.  We were incredibly lucky to have such an amazing father, brother, uncle, grandpa or “Pa”, as his grandkids called him.  

Leroy was the rock that so many people leaned on and were comforted by.  He made sure people had a home to go to for anything they needed. He loved to make those around him laugh and smile. Leroy was always telling jokes or doing something silly to get a laugh out of those around him. He taught us to be strong, brave, independent, forgiving, and courageous people. He also taught us that it is okay to cry and to have moments of weakness and then how to pick ourselves up and to keep moving forward.  

As he would say, “no sad tears”. Until we meet again. BURN RUBBER and get those STRIKES. We love you. See ya later alligator. 

Services for Leroy will be held April 20th 2023, at Our Lady Mother of the Church. 6690 E 72nd ave in Commerce City, CO. Rosary at 9:30 am Mass at 10am Reception to follow.