Kevin Richard Watts

Our dad and grandpa slipped quietly from this mortal experience into eternity on a peaceful Sunday morning. He was surrounded by loving family on both sides.

Kevin Richard Watts was born on September 11, 1931, in Sydney, Australia, to Richard Henry Watts and Irene Emily Elizabeth Reece. His childhood was spent outdoors, where he developed a love for exploring alongside his sister, Fay, and playing tennis and rugby. He would always say that growing up, sports were his religion.

At the age of twenty, an unexpected opportunity changed the course of his life. Kevin secured passage to England and left Sydney along with a friend. His short time in London was simply a layover for his ultimate destination. Having watched American servicemen defend Australia's shores during World War II, he developed a deep patriotism and lifelong gratitude for the United States. He never took for granted the opportunities America gave him and considered it a privilege to become one of its citizens.

While en route, another defining moment occurred. Kevin met missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After many games of table tennis and open religious debates, he recognized they possessed something he desired. He studied their message, prayed, and was baptized as a member in 1952 in London, England. This path eventually led him to Brigham Young University and, on one unforgettable evening, to the dance floor where he met Helen Myrle Barney. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Manti Utah Temple on June 25, 1954, and spent the next sixty-seven years building a remarkable life of service together.

Kevin and Myrle raised six sons - Russell, Greg, Brent, Richard, Daren, and Ryan and one precious daughter, Meleesa. The Watts household was lively and noisy. Myrle often waited for Kevin to arrive home from work to deal with the day's mayhem, which turned into wrestling and further chaos. Fourth of July celebrations and Christmas Eve traditions were spent with the Rollins and Gardner families. Kevin took his boys and their cousins yearly to fishing and deer hunting in the Utah mountains. Summers were spent visiting Lake Powell two or three times a year for decades, where each day began with Kevin's early morning swim.

Kevin had a unique mind that combined creativity and engineering. He earned a masters degree in architecture from the University of California, Berkley. He enjoyed a successful career as an architect for more than 50 years. Some of his most meaningful work came in 1963, when he was invited to help restore historic buildings in Nauvoo, Illinois. After moving his family to Holladay in 1964, he continued designing custom homes and landmarks that still shape Utah today. His creativity extended far beyond architecture. Kevin loved to sketch, and each Christmas Eve, he wrote and illustrated a Christmas story. This was a cherished Watts family tradition.

Kevin had a lifelong desire to lift others through acts of service. He devoted countless hours to improving The Road Home in downtown Salt Lake City, replacing showers, repainting living spaces, and rebuilding playgrounds. Through Choice Humanitarian, he helped build a hospital in Peru and install water systems in Guatemala. In Utah, he renovated homes in Salt Lake City, raised funds to help individuals receive needed medical care, and volunteered on countless projects through the Church's welfare farms, ranches, and other service initiatives. He was a dedicated leader in the Boy Scouts of America organization, serving as President of the Great Salt Lake Council and, later, President (Area 2) of the Boy Scouts of America's western region, where he oversaw all scouting operations in Utah, Southern Idaho, and Southwestern Wyoming.

Kevin found his deepest purpose not in titles and awards, but in showing up for his family, his church, and his neighbors. While he held many callings, the 42 years he spent serving in the young men's organization were his favorite. He had a gift for making one young man feel like the most important person in the room, and he put that gift to work every single week. With Kevin, everyone felt like they belonged. He collected his share of recognition along the way, but he'd tell you none of it mattered half as much as the boys he helped shape into men.

Throughout Kevin's life, tennis remained a true passion. As a disciple of the game, he found great satisfaction playing and teaching tennis. Rather than easing into retirement in his late 70s, Kevin found a new calling: serving as a girls' tennis coach at Cottonwood and then Olympus High School. This role allowed him to spend invaluable time with his granddaughters. As Head Coach at Olympus, Kevin transformed the tennis program and led the team to five state championship titles. Yet Kevin always said that his real achievement wasn't the trophies - it was drawing as many as 80 girls into a genuine love of tennis and building relationships close enough that everyone felt at home calling him “Big K.”

Our dad also loved being a Grandpa. He was playful and patient. He threw footballs and played dress-up. During cousin sleepovers, he would “sneak out” to take gaggles of grandchildren to 7-11 for a midnight Slurpee run. He allowed them to overtake his office and drafting paper for make-believe games of school. He delighted in his grandchildren's achievements and managed to show up for an astonishing number of athletic events, recitals, performances, graduations, marriages, and many other milestones. He is adored and remembered by 29 grandchildren and 59 great-grandchildren, with three more on the way. Each was convinced they had a special place in Grandpa's heart. They are right! He and Grandma Watts loved them all dearly.

Kevin is preceded in death by his wife, Myrle; father, Richard; mother, Irene; and sister, Fay. Kevin is survived by his children, Russell (Diane Hibbard), Gregory (Chris Dunn), Brent (Shauna Metcalf), Richard (Dolene Webb), Daren (Natalie Taylor), Meleesa (Anthony Escobar), and Ryan (Jenny Warner).

Our dad leaves behind a legacy of sacrifice, service, and faith, and a family that was his greatest work. While our hearts ache in their absence, we find great peace knowing our parents are together again.

We'll see you later, Pal.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you donate to The Road Home (theroadhome.org/donate/).

Viewing:

Friday, July 31, 6:00 to 8:00 PM

Saturday, August 1, 10:30 to 11:30 AM

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

2080 East 5165 South, Holladay, Utah

Funeral: Saturday, August 1, 2026, 12:00 PM

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

2080 East 5165 South, Holladay, Utah

Interment to follow at the Memorial Holladay Cemetery.

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