Gordon Gene Conger

Gordon Gene Conger passed away July 25, 2020 at the age of 85. He was born May 26,1935 in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Gene Moore Conger and Katheryn Hart Conger. He grew up in Seattle, Washington, graduating from Queen Anne High School in 1953, and attended Brigham Young University, where he met his wife Myrna Shurtliff, of Overton, Nevada. They graduated together in 1959 and were married June 6, 1959 in the Saint George, Utah temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They settled in Seattle, Washington, where Gordon attended law school at the University of Washington and joined the law firm of Preston, Thorgrimson, Ellis, & Holman, where Gordon was instrumental in the firm’s work on the purchase of articulated buses for Metro, and served as chief legal counsel to KIRO Broadcasting, among many other things.

Gordon served faithfully in many callings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including many years of service as a beloved scoutmaster who took his scouts backpacking all over the mountains and taught them to love the wilderness. Other callings for the Church included Bishop, Stake President, Area Seventy, member of the Northwest Area Presidency, and Gordon’s favorite callings because they were with his wife, president of the Seattle Temple and co-directors of the Church’s Greater Seattle Area Public Affairs Council. Gordon also devoted many hours to community service, as chair of the City of Bellevue Planning Commission, member of the board of directors of the King and Kitsap Counties chapter of the American Red Cross, member of the board of directors of the Urban League of Greater Seattle, and participation on the Seattle Interfaith Council, where he developed many cherished friendships with members of other faiths.

Gordon and Myrna raised their family in Bellevue, Washington, where they lived until the time of his death. They enjoyed spending time together on camping trips and road trips, sailing in the San Juan Islands, and backpacking in Gordon’s beloved Olympic and Cascade mountains, strengthening relationships with each other and creating many wonderful family memories. Gordon is survived by his wife Myrna and children Cindy (Eric), Alyson (Phil), Brad (Kris), and David (Ali); siblings Elizabeth Mueller and Doug Conger; and 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 29th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 10675 NE 20th St. in Bellevue, and interment was at Sunset Hills Memorial Park. Condolences may be expressed to the family at dignitymemorial.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gene and Katheryn Hart Scholarship fund. Instructions forthcoming.