Chris Russell

Christopher Michael Russell, loving husband, son and friend, unexpectedly passed away on January 5, 2024 at the age of 32 after a brief illness. Chris was born on April 16, 1991 to Ronald George Russell and Kathleen Parker Russell. He grew up in Centerville, Utah and graduated from Viewmont High School in 2009.  Chris went on to attend the University of Utah where he played on the Hockey team. He completed the Diesel/Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanic program at DATC and went on to earn an associate degree in Diesel/Heavy-Duty Mechanics from Weber State University. Chris worked for Crown Lift Trucks in Salt Lake City initially as a Service Technician. He grew and developed his career at Crown where he flourished as a talented technician and manager.  His most recent position was Field Service Manager where he had the responsibility of supervising and training other technicians. Chris loved his job and was great at it. He is well-respected and loved by his co-workers.

His work at Crown Lift Trucks was important to Chris, but the most important thing to him was his wife and family. On July 11, 2013, Chris married Hailey Husbands, the love of his life.  Chris and Hailey made their home in Farmington, Utah where they made an active and amazing life together. They travelled extensively and started planning their next vacation while vacationing. This past year Chris and Hailey cruised the British Isles, travelled to Bali and just returned from a trip to Las Vegas to watch a National Hockey League game and the National Finals Rodeo. They have enjoyed trips to Costa Rica, Europe, and many other world destinations. Cruising was Chris’s favorite.  Over the years, Hailey and Chris went on 12 cruises with friends and family.

Chris and Hailey spent time together driving their Can-Am at the sand dunes, camping with friends, riding their horses and spending time with their four beautiful dogs. Chris loved hockey. He started skating when he was 4 years old, played with the Davis County Wind, was captain of the Viewmont High School hockey team where he started playing as a freshman, and was chosen to play on several all-star teams. After playing hockey at the University of Utah he has continued playing on recreation teams and coaching hockey. Chris coached at Viewmont High School for several years, helping to coach the team to consecutive Utah State high school championships. Chris loved boating and everything to do with water sports. His favorite part of any boating trip was showing off how skilled he was at wakeboarding and wake surfing. Once Chris got behind the boat on his surfboard, it was hard to get him to stop.  He was a great teacher and mentor to everyone who came on the boat.  He would patiently teach his nieces and nephews how to surf and was constantly trying to get his dad to buy a new boat. Chris enjoyed gaming with his brothers and friends, was a talented golfer, and was good at any sport he tried.

Chris was Hailey’s biggest supporter and cheerleader as she rode her horses in barrel racing and other competitions. He beamed with pride when Hailey completed her doctorate degree to become a nurse practitioner.  One of Chris’s defining characteristics was how he was always someone you could depend on and took pride in the accomplishments of his family, friends, teammates, and co-workers. Chris was solid and dependable. He always had your back. We are heartbroken by Chris’s untimely death, but take comfort in knowing that he has been reunited with his Mother, his Grandpa and Grandma Russell, Gandpa Parker and other relatives and friends who have passed on before.

Chris was preceded in death by his mother Kathleen, and is survived by his wife Hailey, his father Ronald (Shelly), his brothers Parker and Tyler (Hillary), his sister Taryn (Nate) Tolman, Hailey’s parents Doug Husbands (Leyla Briggs) and Julie Bloomfield (Lynn Oyler), Hailey’s brothers Nate and Hunter, best friend Taylor Weaver and many extended family members, as well as friends who felt like they were part of his family.

The family would like to thank the first responders from the Farmington Police and Fire Departments and the staff at Davis Hospital for answering the call to help Chris.  We will be forever grateful for their efforts to help Chris in his time of need.

Services will be held at the Centerville Utah North Stake Center, 1461 North Main, Centerville, Utah on Saturday January 13, 2024.  Visitation will be from 11:00 am to 12:45 pm and the memorial service will begin at 1:00 pm. A Celebration of Life will follow in the Spring 2024.

For those who are unable to attend the memorial service, it will be broadcast live at:

https://zoom.us/j/97920425132

You can also view the service virtually on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page.

Flowers may be sent to Russon Mortuary Farmington, 1941 N Main St, Farmington, Utah 84025, or in lieu of flowers, we suggest a contribution in Chris’s name to the Utah Amateur Hockey Association.