Frank Harrison Godfrey

In the afternoon of February 26, 2020 while at his home in West Valley City, Utah, Frank peacefully passed away due to complications stemming from his lifelong battle with diabetes. Upon passing from this world to the next, Frank was reunited with his father Ralph, his mother Nellie, sister Lorraine and most of his toes which preceded him in death.

Frank was born on April 1, 1959 in San Lorenzo, California where he spent the early days of his youth before moving to Salt Lake City, Utah with his family at the beginning of Jr. High. Frank lived his life at two speeds: fast and turbo. Never one to take things slow, Frank demonstrated in his near 61 years of life, that it’s not the hand you are dealt, nor the amount of time you are given, but what you accomplish during life that matters most. Though his life was cut short, Frank made his time count, leaving a legacy that will long outlast his time on this earth.

He is survived by his wife and sweetheart of 38 years Kathy, their five children Aaron (Valerie), Michael (Michelle), Kimberly Peaden (Stephen), Alex (Brittany), and Lauren, eleven grand children (Spencer, John, Hyrum, Lincoln, Blake, Emma, Hayley, Cambrie, Addison, Caleb, and Caleb’s yet unborn baby brother) as well as Frank’s beloved sister Pat Barben (Kent), in-laws Richard and Jo An Dahl, and other family members as well as many nieces and nephews that he loved almost as much as he loved his own children.

At long last freed from mounting medical constraints, do not expect Frank to slow down. Where cherished past times like Racquetball matches with his children eventually, and of necessity were relegated to precious memory, Frank was never one to let his ailments keep him from what he loved. Even regular amputations and surgeries couldn’t long keep him from goodnatured wrestling matches with grandchildren and lengthy, frequently ill-advised bike rides through the valley.

Despite his illnesses Frank remained a full participant in the lives of his children and their children until the very end. Punctuating his life with what mattered most to him and his family, he lovingly, faithfully, and fully participated in birthday parties, graduations, commencements, sleepovers, Boy Scout camps, dance concerts (as both spectator and participant), soccer games, backcountry adventures, and family campouts.

Of special note was the annual Godfrey Family Treasure Hunt which Frank painstakingly prepared every Thanksgiving by penning poems and hiding clues throughout the house for his children and later grandchildren to follow. His wit, humor, and the spiritual messages shared in pursuit of hidden treasure will be greatly missed.

It was Frank’s passion for helping his neighbors that made him a fixture of neighborhood service efforts throughout his life. Repairing/replacing roofs was among his favorite projects. Attracted by the opportunity to work with his hands, share in a spirit of kinship and good humor, as well as accomplish some good, Frank sought out service opportunities throughout his life.

Having served and completed a mission in Portland, Oregon for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1978 -1980, Frank never tired of sharing mission stories or bearing his profound and personal testimony of the Savior. His faith in Jesus Christ and the conviction families are eternal are among the most precious gifts he bestowed on his family.

His vigor for service and his palpable love for the people he served as a missionary were instrumental in inspiring four of his children to serve and complete full-time proselyting missions of their own.

It was after his mission that he attended BYU, studied architecture and met his wife Kathy. Introduced as home teacher and home teachee, they dated for 11 months before being married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 19, 1982. Amidst their labors to raise and provide for their children, Frank and Kathy took special joy in the many family vacations they’ve taken over the years. Every family vacation was precious to him, but trips to California’s Yosemite Valley were of special significance to Frank having grown up in Oakland California and visiting Yosemite regularly with his family.

Having been forced from a long and storied career as a financial planner by his declining health, Frank redirected his faculties and found renewed vigor and satisfaction in woodworking, building everything from an elaborate playhouse cherished by his grandchildren, to candlesticks and wooden dishes. Every corner of his West Valley Home is a testament to his creative passion and the labor of his hands. Even up until his final days, he could be found busily laboring in his garage either laying a thick carpet of wood chips while working on his lathe, or tidying up in preparation for his next project.

Those who knew Frank understood he struggled to come to terms with his compounding health concerns, and the slowly eroding independence he had once enjoyed, but in this too—Frank sought to make the best of the situation.

While attending his many checkups, appointments, treatments and surgeries Frank always sought to lift spirits by cracking jokes and pranking the medical staff. And really— what could be more fitting for a man born on April Fool’s Day? Frank’s humor served him well over the years, acting as a therapeutic means to confront and come to terms with his failing health by bringing laughter to those around him.

But as much as he loved a good joke, or as satisfying as his professional endeavors and hobbies may have been, nothing motivated Frank or brought him greater joy than being a grandpa. Affectionately known as “grandpa”, “BIG grandpa” and “Papa Doffrey” Frank showered his grandchildren with his undivided time, attention and seemingly endless supply of contraband goodies.

Known for regularly smuggling cookies and doughnuts in his sleeves for his “grand kiddies”, Frank’s children have more than once contemplated implementing a pre-visit search and frisk. Frank lived for every smile, hug, or moment with his grandkids and did anything he could to bring them joy and express his love for them.

He faithfully attended their soccer and basketball games, dance practices and programs, and took great joy in regaling friends and strangers alike with tales of grandchildren’s physical, and mental prowess.

The chess games, horsey rides, and endless wrestling matches will be sorely missed, but his grandchildren will live having never been given a reason to doubt grandpa’s profound love for them.

Viewing services will be held Monday, March 2, 2020 from 6-8pm at Valley View Funeral Home 4335 West 4100 South in West Valley, and Tuesday March 3, from 9:30-10:45 AM at Hunter 36th Ward Chapel 3930 South 6000 West, West Valley, prior to funeral services which will be held at 11AM. Interment Redwood Memorial Estates Cemetery, 6500 South Redwood Road following the services.