Dec 23, 1926-June 24, 2022
Our kind and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and friend, Richard Denton Mathews, valiantly finished his earthly assignment and returned home to his Heavenly Father on June 24, 2022, at the age of 95 in St. George, Utah.
He was born in Logan, Utah, on Dec. 23, 1926, to Denton and Edna Mathews. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Gloria Marriotti and Carolyn Raat.
He served in the US Navy during World War II after graduating from South Cache High School.
He married Faye Hillyard of Smithfield, Utah, in 1947 at the Logan Temple.
He graduated with a degree in geology from Utah State University and worked for Shell Oil Company for 20 years. He then worked for Gulf Oil Corp. and Chevron Corp. as an Exploration Manager.
He was a faithful and devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many callings and worked with the young men in the church for many years. He served as a Bishop in Farmington, New Mexico, and also in Littleton, Colorado. He was a Branch Leader in Islamabad, Pakistan, and served in the Branch Presidency in Lagos, Nigeria, and Dublin, Ireland. He also served on several High Councils.
He served in the Logan Temple and as a Sealer in the Manila Philippines, Provo and St. George temples for a total of 27 years.
Richard also served with his wife on a mission to Manila, Philippines and as Mission President to open the Lagos, Nigeria, mission in 1988. They also served in the Provo Temple Presidency,
They returned to Logan, Utah, and in 1990 moved to St. George, Utah, where they have lived for 32 years. They spent the summers at their Pine Valley cabin for 17 years.
Their marriage of 75 years was blessed with five children: Kent (St George), Pamela Baker (St George), Trudy Marshall (Las Vegas), Melanie Dustin (New Harmony), and Paula Jensen (Boise, Idaho). He is also survived by 25 grandchildren and 71 great-grandchildren.
He will best be remembered by those whose lives he touched as a kind, patient, cheerful, generous, thoughtful and Christlike person who deeply cared about others. His love of family, people and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were his focus on Earth.
A family graveside service will be held at Tonaquint Cemetery. The family has elected to hold a small family gathering in lieu of a formal service.
The family also would like to thank Dixie Hospice for their extraordinary care.
Condolences may be shared at the McMillian Mortuary website.
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