Richard Gene Cowley

Richard Gene Cowley was called Home to be with his Father in Heaven after a long life of service and devotion. He passed away after a long life well lived and a short illness.

Gene was very much like the miniature collies he spent his life caring for and training. He was loving and lovable, loyal to a fault, hard working and completely devoted to his wife of 62 years, Carol.

Gene was born in Provo, Utah, on December 5, 1940 to Hal and Ida Cowley. He spent the bulk of his 82 years in Utah County. He was an excellent student and received many awards for perfect attendance for the full year, no absences. He graduated from Orem High and attended BYU. Afterwards he lived for a short time at Fort Ord, where he went to Basic Training for the Army.

He met Carol while at BYU, married in Las Vegas in 1961 and later moved to Santa Rosa, CA where he and Carol lived for a short time. Then they returned to Utah to build a life. They were later sealed in the Manti Temple.

He loved his dogs, the outdoors, hunting, fishing, boating, and camping. He was an excellent marksman. He loved to travel and after retiring from Geneva Steel after 33 years, he and Carol spent a lot of time traveling the country, visiting the West Coast, houseboating on Lake Powell, and sightseeing throughout the West.

Gene was a High Priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served as ward clerk, ward genealogist, and was then called to serve in the Stake Genealogy Extraction Center for 20 years. 

The world lost a gentle giant. He was good. He was kind. He was smart. He was loving. He was the best of examples. And we lost a good friend, a great husband, father and grandfather. He loved his family the most.

He is survived by his wife, Carol, and their two sons, John (Tracy) and Stephen (Carolyn), 3 grandchildren, David, Stephen, and Scott, and 6 great-grandchildren, Lincoln, Icelynn, Kolby, Delilah, Sawyer and one on the way. He is also survived by one brother, Bud. He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Ned and Bruce.

Gene's sneakers will never be filled, but he left behind a great legacy. He will always be someone we look up to.

Funeral services will be held Friday, November 3, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Sundberg Olpin Mortuary, 495 S State Street, Orem, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the funeral from 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. Interment will be at Provo City Cemetery, 610 S State, Provo, Utah immediately after the funeral services. A family luncheon will be prepared by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 4th Ward and held at the Provo Parkway Stake Center, 2801 W 620 N, Provo, Utah.

Please come and celebrate his wonderful life with us!

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.

For those unable to attend in person, you may view the Services HERE