Gordon Parker Owen, Jr.

Gordon P. Owen Jr. died peacefully in South Jordan, Utah of natural causes on September 29, 2026. Gordon was born at home in Salt Lake City on July 17, 1930 to Gordon P. Owen and Nevada Browning Owen. He was the first child born into the family, followed by Marita, Roberta and Stanford. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Marita. Gordon is survived by his sister Roberta and his brother Stanford.

He had a unique and adventure-filled life. Even before he was 18 years old, Gordon’s family moved 21 times to major cities across the country. He lived in Salt Lake City, Northern and Southern California, Chicago, and New York.

Even with big city moves, Gordon developed a love of the outdoors, mountains, hunting, fishing, and farmland from living on a farm in Lehi, Utah. As a young man, he returned each summer to work on the 40-acre farm owned by his step grandfather Walter L. Webb. He worked alongside his mentorship and example for several years.

He graduated from Palo Alto High School, in Palo Alto, CA, and attended BYU for two years on a baseball scholarship. Later, he served a church mission in 1950 to the South Africa, Cape Town Mission. He was the first missionary to leave from the new Bonneville Ward in Salt Lake City. Upon his return, Gordon graduated from the University of Utah in 1955 with a degree in Advertising and Journalism. He received the “Outstanding Journalism Graduate” award from the U of U and also served as President of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He wore his Sigma Chi ring throughout his life. He met his beautiful wife and married the Sweetheart of Sigma Chi, Carolyn Woodruff, in the Salt Lake Temple on May 19, 1955.

In his early business career, Gordon was hired to the position of Manager of the Utah Press Association, an advertising and trade association representing the 56 weekly and small daily newspapers in Utah. A position he held from 1955 to 1970. During that time, he traveled extensively, serving as Chairman of the Board of American Newspaper Reps, representing 8,500 newspapers throughout the country, with offices in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

From 1970 to his retirement, he created and had success in real estate land development of mountain property in Summit County, Utah. He loved his time driving up the mountain roads and crossing streams above Oakley, Utah on the Upper Weber. He served both as President of the South Fork Association and the Summit County Property Owners Association.

Gordon and Carolyn spent many happy hours planning for and finally building the Lazy G Bar Ranch, east of Oakley, fulfilling a life-long dream of a cabin on a ranch with horses, pastures, trout ponds, and pine trees. Gordon loved his horses. His grandchildren affectionally called him “Grandpa Horse.” He loved hunting in the Rocky Mountains of the West and had a full life of many successful hunting trips.

His four outstanding children were his pride and joy: Sharon (Robert) Berg, Stephen (Jane) Owen, Randall (Shandi) Owen, Russell (Marci) Owen. He loved all his 18 grandchildren and over 45 great-grandchildren. Spending the 4th of July at the Lazy G Bar Ranch and the Oakley Rodeo with family all around was always a highlight to his life.

Gordon was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He dedicated his life to regularly bearing testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He held many church callings and positions of responsibility and always tried to do his best to magnify his callings. He was an outstanding teacher of adult and youth classes. In 1999, he fulfilled his dream of returning with Carolyn to the South Africa Capetown Mission and serve as senior missionaries.

Gordon had a host of friends from all walks of life and was known to be a true friend. His friends could always count on him to stay close to them, especially during times of trial. He loved cheering for the U of U and would always show his red colors. Even at 96, he always loved to show his grandchildren the Utah sign and shout “Go Utes”!

Visitation with family and friends will be held on Wednesday, October 7th, from 6 to 8 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Draper South Mountain 5th Ward – 607 Rocky Mouth Lane, Draper, UT 84020

The funeral will be held on Thursday, October 8th, at 11:00 am at the Draper South Mountain 5th Ward – 607 Rocky Mouth Lane, Draper, UT 84020. Visitation with family and friends will be held prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:30 am.