LaMar Monson Fox

LaMar Monson Fox (1934–2025) drifted peacefully into heaven on July 8, 2025, at the age of 90 in Salt Lake City, Utah. With him he takes the love of family, friends, and many who had the chance to cross paths with him in a long and meaningful life.

He was born August 23, 1934, to Soren Neve and Letha Monson Fox in Salt Lake City. He graduated from East High School and received his M.D. from the University of Utah School of Medicine, a “Utah man, sir,” through and through. After earning his degree, he practiced for over 30 years as a child and family psychiatrist, primarily in San Diego, where he directed the Child Guidance Clinic at Children’s Hospital and maintained a private practice. He concluded his career in Salt Lake City, where he continued to serve families with warmth and insight. Someone once asked if his training helped him be a good father. He answered that it was the other way around: being a good father helped him be a good psychiatrist.

He met his soulmate, Joyce Lundgreen, as both prepared to serve missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—LaMar to Samoa and Joyce to the British Isles. The first time they held hands was in the prayer circle in the temple, as prospective missionaries. They later held hands across an altar in the Salt Lake Temple, where they were sealed for time and eternity on March 20, 1959.

LaMar served three missions: first to Samoa as a young man, then with Joyce in the Apia Samoa Temple, and later as a bishop ministering to transient members in St. George. He served in many other callings and testified of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the very end.

He is survived by his children, Mark Lundgreen (Cathie), Guy LaMar (Amy), Christopher Neve (Susie), and Scott David (Julie); 17 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren, with three more on the way. He is also survived by his brothers, David Monson Fox (Judy) and Jesse Neve Fox (Ginny). The memory of David’s first wife, Arlene, remains dear to the family. LaMar was preceded in death by his parents; and his eternal companion, Joyce Lundgreen Fox. He also had the privilege to be joined in marriage to Betty Redd and Merlyn Leetham, who also preceded him in death..

LaMar’s interests were wide-ranging: sailing, backpacking with his boys, cheering on his favorite baseball team (the Padres), and reading insatiably. He wrote two books—one about his parents’ love story and one about his own. He traveled the world, visiting every continent but Africa, a final trip thwarted by his health. One of his favorite adventures was circling the globe with his oldest son on the Trans-Siberian Railway. He was a poet, a scholar, and a man deeply invested in the people he met.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 Highland Dr., Salt Lake City, Utah.

Livestream of funeral-https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c25079559821582