Gordon Melvin Williams

Gordon Melvin Williams, 78, of Smithfield, Utah, passed away from complications with Lewy Body Dementia on September 13, 2026, in the comfort of his home and in the loving care of his wife, MaryAnn Stobbe Williams.

Gordon was born on August 25, 1948, in Pocatello, Idaho, to Melvin Williams and Gwen Wright Williams. He grew up at the foothills of the Bannock Range, wandering free on foot and bike. These adventures, combined with the many family camping trips where they camped in a car-pulled wagon, turned Gordon into a lifelong lover of the outdoors. While shy as a child, he bloomed under the care of his mother, Gwen, and his gentle Swedish grandmother, Botilda.

Gordon found his calling in the outdoors as a civil engineer and landscape architect. His decades-long career with the United States Forest Service (USFS), allowed him to combine his professional talents with his love of nature and adventure. He helped design many public recreation areas throughout the western states including Payson Lakes Campground, the Nebo Loop National Scenic Byway, the Bear Lake overlook in Logan Canyon, and the bike trail from Garden City to Laketown were some of his beautiful Utah projects. He became a leader for the USFS in sustainable tourism in the Intermountain West, with a career culminating in appointment to a leadership team representing the USFS for the 2002 Utah Winter Olympics. He imparted his love for outdoors and adventure to his children, teaching them what a passion-focused career looks like.

Beginning in high school, Gordon had a passion for muscle cars, specifically his 2003 Mustang convertible SVT Cobra and his 2017 Mustang GT. He loved sharing his excitement about his Mustangs—along with his keys—with friends, family members, or Elder’s Quorum brothers willing to go for a drive with him. Being in his car with loved ones on a scenic drive was clearly his happy place.

Gordon found deep meaning in serving others in his church and community. From 1967 to 1969, his faith deepened when Gordon served his dream mission in the Auckland New Zealand Mission, serving under President Rulon Craven. Later, he served his fellowmen in church callings including Bishoprics, High Priests Groups, Scouting, Single Adults programs, as an Ordinance Worker in the Logan Temple, and in Special Needs Mutual, where he said, “It taught me great lessons on what mattered most.”

Gordon was a fun-maker as a father, grandfather, and uncle. He would lead night games while camping, host water fights, construct homemade Slip ‘N Slides, build snow forts, and take his children on daylong ATV rides in the woods and deserts of Utah. His artistic creativity also found expression in the beautiful pottery he made.

Later in life, Gordon got snookered when MaryAnn invited him to “Come up to Cache Valley and see our beautiful night skies.” It worked. Their marriage was a joyful one as they shared travels, hobbies, temple service, great meals, and especially adorable grandchildren. He felt that living in their home was truly “heaven on earth.”

Gordon’s life touched many people, and he will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. Those who loved him will remember his adventurous spirit, his generosity, his creativity, his sense of fun, his devotion to service, and the joy he found in sharing the things he loved with others.

Gordon is survived by his wife, MaryAnn; his four children, Matthew (Pam), Kelly (Jean-Jacques), Andrew (Amanda), Kimberly; MaryAnn’s four children, Amanda (Robert), Marisa (Shan), Jennifer (Jacob), Eric, and his 19 grandchildren: Margot, Anea, Theo, Juliette, Jacques, Jasmine, Caleb, Jeremiah, Emelyse, James, Lyla, Ryan, Emmerson, Madeline, Ethan, Abigail, Jade, Preston, and Dylan. He is also survived by his sister Claire (Mike), and he is preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Kaye (Dave) whom he loved dearly.

A celebration of his life and funeral will be held on Saturday, September 26, at noon, in the Smithfield 21st Ward building, located at 300 East 300 South, Smithfield, Utah. Visitation will be Friday, September 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E Center Street in Logan. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the funeral on Saturday, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the ward building. Interment will be in the Smithfield Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humanitarian Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com.