George Patrick Richards

George Patrick Richards passed away on September 21, 2026. He was born on February 12, 1948, the son of George Greenwell Richards and Eleanor Smith Patrick Richards. He was the oldest of four children born into the family. He grew up in Cottonwood Heights and found as much trouble as he could in those years. He graduated from Hillcrest High School in 1966 and was the Student Body President. He had many close friends from his high school days which he kept throughout his life. He played both varsity basketball and baseball and received a Scholarship to the University of Utah. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Scotland, the land of his forefathers, from 1967-1969. He was an assistant to the President of the mission and loved the Scottish people and the land of Scotland his entire life. He married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Ann Griffeth, on May 15, 1969, being sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. They have been married for 57 years. They raised their four children together (Annette, Mark, Derek, and Jeffrey) and started the Richards Clan. George graduated from the University of Utah in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He started his career in real estate in 1973. He and his partner, Scott Chapman, started their own firm – Chapman-Richards & Associates, Inc. – in 1978. George was the Principal Broker and was fortunate to have had many sales associates and staff that he was very close to. They became the CR family. George actively represented his clients in sales and leasing both commercial and residential real estate in addition to being the Broker. He received both the CCIM and the CRB designation from the National Association of Realtors. His first loyalty was always to his clients. He stayed close to many of them over the years. George was active in both the Salt Lake Board of Realtors and the Utah Association of Realtors and served as President of both organizations. He was named Realtor of the Year by both. He served on many different committees and on the Board of Directors of both. He was the Realtor representative to three different Congressman from Utah and enjoyed the friendship he developed with each. He was active in different community organizations including the Planned Gifts Committee at Primary Children’s Hospital.

George was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many positions. He served as the Bishop of the Granite First Ward. He and Pat served 2 Inner City missions and served as Guest Service Missionaries on Temple Square for 3 years. They were anticipating serving another mission in the future.

George’s first love and most important thing in his life was his family. He loved to be with them whenever he could. He attended his sons and grandsons’ athletic activities and was accused sometimes of being too intense. He and his sons won many golf tournaments together. When his sons, grandsons and granddaughters served missions he was always with them in support. Dance recitals became the normal and his granddaughters always knew he was so proud of them. George loved family traditions. Fishing trips to Strawberry Reservoir and the annual family trip to Palm Desert for golf and the pool was the highlight of every year.

He and Pat have 17 grandchildren, Ashley, Bronson, Parker, Alexa, Morgan, Max, Addison, Sophia, Emma, Mary, William, Laura, Presley, Chase, Breklyn, Kage, and Jollee and 9 great grandchildren. Nash, Banks, Lennon, Aniston, Evangeline, Annette, Collin, Rosie, and Wells with another one on the way. When George’s daughter Annette passed away it was extremely hard on him. She was perfect in his eyes, and their reunion was something he looked forward to for the rest of his life.

George is survived by his wife Pat, his sons Mark and his wife Becca (Wallace), Derek and his wife Angela (Madsen), and Jeffrey and his wife McCall (Lee) and his son-in-law Troy Ferran. His 17 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Charlie (Holly) and his sister Loretta (Dan Neil). Also, many nieces and nephews (including James) and extended family. He was preceded in death by both of his parents, his daughter Annette Ferran, his brother Briant, his in-laws LaVere and Ruth Griffeth, and his grandparents with whom he was very close to – William T. and Edith Eleanor Smith Patrick and Laurence W. and Loretta Greenwell Richards. Private family graveside services will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Utah Food Bank. https://www.utahfoodbank.org

Services will be a private family gathering. Thank you to everyone for all of your thoughts, prayers, friendship and love to George and the Richards family.