Richard E. Myers

Our beloved Patriarch, Richard Elmer Myers, a man of wisdom, service, and faith, returned with honor to his heavenly reward on March 8, 2017, of complications of pneumonia and Alzheimer disease.

He was born on October 7, 1932 in Ogden, Utah, a son of Elmer Holmes and Roseann Patterson Myers. He was a raised during the great depression which helped him to learn the value of hard work, family and thrift. Richard graduated from Ogden High School, Weber State College and the Los Angeles College of Mortuary Science as the valedictorian. He married his eternal sweetheart, Gloria Ann Jorgensen on Dec. 20, 1952 in the Saint George Temple. Their marriage was blessed with three children,

Greg, Shaun and Teri. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.
He was a dedicated and wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He leaves his posterity with a legacy of sacrifice, love of God, family values, trust and unity.

Richard was a man of vision, integrity and untiring service to others. He was an optimistic, happy and outgoing person who was a friend to everyone. He loved to teach, tell a great story or a humorous antidote and he especially loved to laugh and share a smile. He had a wonderful attribute and gift to mentor, encourage and inspire others to be the very best they could be. He loved to nurture people and help them to realize their potential; develop their talents; and realize their divine nature and infinite worth in God´s eyes. He was a loyal friend who loved people and knew them by their names.

Due to the poor health of his father, Richard began to lead Myers Mortuary, his family business, at the young age of 31. He was progressive, honest and had an incredible vision for the future. Over the past 64 years, his business partners have been his father, Elmer; his sons, Greg and Shaun; and his grandsons, Matthew and Marcus. He loved his coworkers and fellow employees and often worked by their side to inspire and assist them.

He was an outstanding funeral director, who was recognized by President George H. W. Bush, the National Funeral Directors Association and many state funeral director associations for his leadership, foresight and service to his profession. He was the founder of the NFDA´s Pursuit of Excellence Program and began the nationally acclaimed Good Grief program for widowed people and residents of Weber, Davis and Box Elder counties.

He served as the president of the National Funeral Directors Association, WSU Institutional Council (where he was one of the generating forces for Weber State to obtain university status) WSU Alumni Association, Ogden Chamber of Commerce, Utah Funeral Directors Association, Utah Funeral Service Licensing Board, he twice served as Chair of the Ogden Pioneer Days Committee and was the first president of the Eccles Art Center and was one of the motiving founders to purchase the Eccles mansion as the center´s home.

He was a founding member of the Weber State College Foundation, and served as a member of the McKay-Dee Hospital Board of Trustees, Weber County Fair Grounds and Golden Spike Event Center and many other national, state and community organizations.

Richard was a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved to serve in any capacity, but is especially remembered by those he served as a Bishop, Counselor in a Stake Presidency, High Counselor (four times), teacher, youth advisor, coach, ward mission leader, cub scout master and dedicated home teacher. For over 17 years, he served as the Northern Utah director of public relations for the church. He was ever stalwart and faithful. He always fulfilled every assignment and never missed doing his duty.

Richard loved the outdoors, his horses, and always had a faithful friend and dog to accompany him on his trail rides. He called his cowboy friends "the posse". As a Grandpa, he especially loved taking his grandchildren horseback riding at the cabin to enjoy the beauties of nature and our cherished mountains.

One of Richard´s greatest joys was being with his beloved family. He called his grandchildren his "muggles". We will always cherish his skiing trips to Snow Basin, WSU Basketball and Football games, trail rides, Sunday dinners, picnics, cookouts, Harry Potter movies, Pioneer Day rodeos, parades and many work projects at the cabin. He was always on the go.

He is survived by his cherished wife, Gloria; children, Greg (Suzanne) Myers of Brigham City, Shaun (Christina) Myers serving as Mission President of Ciudad Obregon, Mexico and Teresa Ann "Teri" Brown of Orange County, CA; nine grandchildren; Matthew, Marcus (Melanie), Scott, Kjerstin (Clark) Briton, Katarina (Jace) Nelson, Zack, Zachery, Daniel and Thomas and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Marilyn and a granddaughter, Annika.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at the North Ogden Stake Center, 626 East 2600 North, North Ogden, Utah. A viewing will be held on Friday, March 17th from 5 to 8 p.m. at Myers Ogden Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd. and Saturday at the Stake Center prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Interment at Evergreen Memorial Park, 100 Monroe Blvd. where military honors will be accorded.

Memorial donations may be made to Weber State University Advancement Department at 1265 Village Drive, Ogden, UT 84408 for scholarship purposes in Richard's name.