On August 2, 2022, our beloved husband and father, Gordon N. Hodgson, 76, finished his tasks in this mortal life and returned to his Heavenly Father.
Gordon Nephi Hodgson… aka “Phlash” … was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 24,1945 to Allen Leroy Hodgson and Ivy Jane Campbell Hodgson. The family moved from Salt Lake City to Payson, Utah when Gordon was about four years old. Gordon attended public schools in Payson, where, as he told it, he fell in love with Deanna in the first grade. He played football and track during his high school years and graduated from Payson High in 1963.
Scouting was a huge part of Gordon’s life growing up, and he earned his Eagle Scout Badge and Order of the Arrow award. Gordon served as a missionary for the LDS church in the Central States Mission from 1964 to 1966, and after returning from his mission, he married the love of his life, Deanna Christensen, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple on December 16,1966.
After they were married, Gordon and Deanna moved to Logan, Utah so that Gordon could attend Utah State University. Gordon studied Aerospace Engineering and was a member of the ROTC for three years. He earned a degree in Drafting from LaSalle University, and worked part-time as a bus driver while attending school.
Always a hard worker with an entrepreneurial spirit, Gordon bought a business and named it Gordon’s Machine and Iron Works, and thus began his first career as a welder, machinist, and custom fabricator. Throughout a thirty plus year career as a welder and fabricator, guided by his impeccable work ethic, Gordon owned and operated several successful businesses, including a U-cart concrete company which he built from scratch. Monuments to his legacy as a fabricator can be found throughout Utah and surrounding states in the form of railings, staircases, truck beds, trailers, wind chimes and much more.
He found his true calling, passion and second career later in life as a Tour Director. Having worked as a bus driver and limo driver from time to time throughout his life, Gordon found a love of driving and of travel and of serving others. He attended the International Tour Management Institute where he received a Tour Director Certification and spent the next 19 years traveling through National Parks as a Tour Director. His love of nature and history was evident in every conversation he had about his tours, and he genuinely cared for and developed lasting relationships with the people he served.
Gordon’s natural talent for storytelling and humor is what made him an exceptional tour director and what drew people to him in general. He more than just provided the history of an area, he brought it to life and helped increase others’ love, understanding and appreciation for the world around them.
Gordon was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, held several callings throughout the years, and attended the temple regularly with his spouse. Though we will all miss him dearly, we know he is happy and has been reunited with his parents who were waiting for him with open arms.
Gordon is survived by his beloved wife, Deanna, and their five children Kristie (Robert) Wolf, Daryl (Anna) Hodgson, Jeffrey (Nicole) Hodgson, Ryan (Julia) Hodgson, Lisa (Jon) Sente, and his siblings, Colleen (Glen) Bowers, Mark (Vicky) Hodgson, and Grant (Pam) Hodgson. Gordon has nineteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
There will be a viewing on Monday, August 8 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the Spring Creek 7th Ward Building at 350 N 400 E in Springville.
An additional viewing will be held at the same location on Tuesday from 9:30-10:30 am with a Funeral service following at 11:00 am. A livestream of the service is available by visiting www.springcreekmortuary.com.
