Gregory Leven Ferrin

Gregory Leven Ferrin of Phoenix, AZ returned to his heavenly home after battling cancer on January 27, 2025 at the age of 79 years old. Greg was born in the home of his grandparents Glen Gardner and Maggie (Craig) Root on August 3, 1945 in Safford, Graham County, AZ to his beloved parents, Leven B Ferrin and Marsha Mae (Root) Ferrin.

Greg was the eldest child in a family of four children. His siblings are Barbara (Frank) Harrison, Paula Jane (Roger) Hunt, and Scott Ellis (Davilyn Dalton) Ferrin. He grew up in Mesa and Phoenix and graduated from North High School (1963) and University of Arizona (1971). He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1965-1967 in the Southern States Mission. After returning from his mission and attending a semester at Brigham Young University, he met his sweetheart, Cecilia Ann Williams and was married on November 17, 1967 in the Mesa Arizona Temple. Cecilia preceded him in death in 2019. Together they had four adoring children. Leah, Amy Diane, Rebecca Alice (John) Bowler, and Peter Jonathan (Dreia Norris). He was a loving Grandfather to his eight grandchildren who include: Savannah Alice (Emilio) Ortiz, Abigail Grace Bowler, Sarah Brooklyn Bowler, Gavin Baylin Ferrin, Zoe Elise Ferrin, Connor Mac Ferrin, Kiera Reese Ferrin, and Ryan Thorston Ferrin. He delighted in sharing his love of the outdoors with them and hearing about their interests.

Greg was a telephone communications employee for 43 years. He started his employment with Mountain Bell as a janitor and retired from Qwest/CenturyLink Communications after being in several managerial positions. His favorite position was being an installer/repair technician. One of the highlights of being a telephone technician was when he was chosen to support the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, UT. It was a great honor for him to be selected from among his colleagues to represent his company, allowing him to utilize the skills he honed over many years to help set-up and support the Olympics.

Greg was an avid reader and particularly enjoyed learning about World War II aviation, battles and the politics surrounding the war. He also enjoyed mystery novels, stamp collecting, and watching sports (i.e. the Phoenix Sun basketball games and NFL/U of A football games). Family vacations always involved visiting historic sites like Tuzigoot National Monument, Montezuma’s Castle, and included Arizona History of all kinds. He always said he had his ‘best’ sleep on the ground in a sleeping bag within Arizona’s gorgeous forests and beautiful deserts. He was a gourmet cook over a campfire and his cooking was envied and enjoyed at every campout. He loved to share his culinary masterpieces cooked in a Dutch oven or on his favorite griddle. While others would pack hot dogs to cook on a stick over the fire, he would cook hearty full course meals of meat and potatoes, complimented with his famous Dutch oven cobblers.

His greatest joy was in serving his Heavenly Father and others. He was very focused on family history, and he spent much of his retirement serving in the LDS Temple. He served in many callings in the Paradise Valley Arizona Stake, including Bishopric Counselor, Stake High Counselor and his favorite calling a Boy Scout Scoutmaster. While serving as the Scoutmaster he found his passion for Scouting. He held numerous leadership positions in the Four Peaks, North Star and Camelback Districts. During his 27-year tenure in Scouting, he received several awards including: North Star District Scoutmaster of the Year (1985), On My Honor Religious Award (1986), Distinguished Commissioner Service award (1989), and the Silver Beaver (1989).

A private-family Celebration of Life will be held graveside on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at the Mesa City Cemetery in Mesa, AZ.