Gordon Thurman Ward

Gordon Thurman Ward, age 88, was reunited at last on Jan. 17, 2019, with his beloved wife, Myrna, their sons, and many other cherished friends and loved ones who preceded him across the Veil.
The first of Elmer William and Norma Thurman Ward’s five children, Gordon was born in Kaysville, Utah on April 25, 1930. As a child, he enjoyed exploring his family’s heritage land in the Fruit Heights foothills in the company of cousin-friends and faithful canine companions, and spending time with his beloved Grandmother, Mary Ann Haddon Ward. Gordon graduated from Davis High in 1948.
Gordon met and fell in love with his eternal Sweetheart, Myrna Sims, as they shared a stand playing first- and second-chair clarinet in the Weber College band. He funded part of his college education playing lead saxophone in a swing dance band and marched in the U.S. Army band during his time in the reserves.
Gordon and Myrna were married in the Logan Utah temple on June 15, 1951. They are the parents of seven children: Darrell, Wendy (John) Mullens, Jeff, Melanie (Don) Crandall, Kathy (Kim) Richins, Sheila (Jeff) Raymond, and Laura (Jon) Toone. They were blessed to welcome 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren into their family.
As an aerospace engineer, Gordon was privileged to help put some of the first satellites into space. He took up making dynamic sculptures during his down time at mission control and mastered the craft over the course of his life. Gordon was a pilot, poet, artist, writer, hobby architect, builder, innovator, voracious reader and lifelong learner. He was an avid gardener who produced his own compost and organic produce long before it was cool. A true “Renaissance Man,” Gordon took up oil painting after retirement and volunteered for several years as part of a community grief healing group.
Gordon loved nature and took pleasure in autumn leaves and watching sunsets and clouds, especially from the air. He enjoyed camping and saw beauty in rocks and what appeared to others to be, well… nothing. He’d sweep his arm across an empty desert horizon and exclaim, “Just look at that view!”
Gordon was a strong and often quiet man of integrity who thought deeply and loved much. He always worked hard and never gave up, no matter how hard things got. He had a fun sense of humor and a humble, open, genuine way about him that drew others to him. He made popcorn for his family every Sunday night, and loved making up songs and stories for his children and grandchildren, reading to them and helping them learn to visualize words. He had a wonderful, deep bass voice for reading aloud and singing, and thought heaven would be like hearing his daughters sing.
Gordon honored his Priesthood and served faithfully in many capacities in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A highlight for Gordon and Myrna was serving a full-time mission together in the Harrisburg Pennsylvania mission.
The family wishes to express gratitude to all those who reached out to Gordon in love and care, especially during his last few years in mortality. Please know how much he loves and appreciates you.
Viewings will be held at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center Street, Logan, Utah on Jan. 25 from 6 – 8 p.m., and on Jan. 26 from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., with funeral services following in the same location at 1 p.m. The interment will take place immediately afterwards in Garden City, Utah. Funeral services are under the direction of Allen-Hall Mortuary, and condolences may be expressed online at www.allenmortuaries.net .