Gene McDaniel

Gene H. McDaniel, our long-suffering and much-beloved Dad, "Papa", Grandpa, brother, uncle, husband, and dear friend passed away peacefully on November 9, 2025. Gene Henry McDaniel was born to Helen and Jonathon (“Jack”) McDaniel in Malad, Idaho on December 10, 1941, three days after Pearl Harbor was bombed. Gene grew up during the tough, early years of World War II on his family's cattle ranch in Arimo, Idaho. As the second oldest of six surviving children in those circumstances, Gene developed a work ethic, eye for detail, and concern for others that would serve him well for the rest of his life.

As a teenager, Gene continued to work on the family ranch and attended Marsh Valley High School in Southern Idaho. Despite a lack of natural speed and a limited ability to fully rotate his wrists, Gene participated in various activities, including playing high school football, where his efforts and good nature endeared him to everyone on the team.

After high school, Gene served an honorable mission in the Southeastern region of the United States for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After returning from his mission, Gene attended Utah State University in Logan, Utah where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in 1965 and later completed coursework for a Masters Degree in Psychology at the University of Utah. While attending USU, Gene met and fell in love with Martha Mitchell, and they were married in the Logan Temple on March 18, 1966. Shortly thereafter, Gene and Martha moved to Farmington, Utah, where they purchased a home in which they lived for the rest of their lives together.

A central part of Gene and Martha’s life was their love of family, and they opened their home and family in support of others many times over the course of their lives. In 1968, Gene and Martha happily welcomed the birth of their first son, Stephen, and another son, Douglas, in 1970. A decade later, the family welcomed their niece and cousin, Kathryn, into their home, navigating the difficult waters of raising her in partnership with her father, David. In doing so, they cared for Kathryn as they would a beloved daughter and sister to Stephen and Douglas. Later, Gene and Martha also welcomed and helped care for their nephew, Bentley Mitchell, in a similar fashion, treating him as they would a cherished son and brother, while his mother recuperated from a serious illness. Later still Gene and Martha would be instrumental in providing a loving, protective home for Kathryn's children, Akasha and Will, both of whom Gene and Martha loved as deeply as their own children. Gene and Martha also found tremendous joy and satisfaction in their loving relationships with Stephen’s children, Merritt and Chabot, and Bentley’s daughter, Emma, as well as with their many other nieces, nephews, and family members. Because of those relationships and the love Gene and Martha showed to others, their home in Farmington became a favorite place for family and friends to visit for holidays and other events, receive wisdom and advice, engage in spirited conversation, and experience Gene’s wry sense of humor firsthand.

Gene was a lifelong devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Personal and family prayer and scripture study were part of his daily life, as Gene strived to better live the gospel. He diligently and unassumingly served in numerous callings, including as a trusted home teacher/minister, a priesthood quorum and group leader, a stake high councilor, and as president of the branch at the Davis County Jail. In these callings and his interactions with others, Gene demonstrated an abiding faith in Jesus Christ that manifested itself in the way he treated each person with sincere love, respect, kindness, and dignity, regardless of the circumstances of their lives. That included showing tolerance, understanding, and acceptance for those whose beliefs, opinions, practices, and choices differed from his own.

In his career and other activities, Gene was a passionate counselor to, and defender of, those in need or who might be considered less fortunate. After graduating from USU, Gene would become a juvenile court counselor and probation officer. He went on to work for many years as a counselor and Residence Life advisor at Clearfield Job Corps. After his position at Job Corps ended, Gene was pleased to continue his efforts counseling disadvantaged youth by acting as a Director at the United Auto Workers Management Training Center in Clearfield. And as an ardent Democrat, Gene frequently engaged in spirited debate with his Republican neighbors and enthusiastically participated in the political process and many other efforts to advocate for equality, justice, and providing assistance to those in need.

Over the course of their lives together, Gene and Martha had the opportunity to travel throughout Utah and the world. Gene relished the chance to visit family and friends, as well as learn about and experience different places and cultures. He was a voracious reader, unabashed sports fan—especially the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown races—and avid watcher of the evening news. All of that enabled him to converse knowledgeably with others about a wide variety of subjects.

In recent years, Gene suffered the loss of both his beloved wife, Martha, and his dear son, Douglas. Gene's heartbreak and loneliness stemming from these losses was deep and palpable. Even so, Gene faced the future with remarkable courage, as he remained faithful and deeply committed to his remaining family and community members.

After experiencing various health challenges over the past year, Gene passed away peacefully on November 9, 2025. He will be dearly missed by his surviving siblings, his children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other family members, friends, and neighbors. As Gene would have wished, a memorial service to celebrate Gene’s life will be held on his 84th birthday, December 10, 2025. Services will be held at 11:00am at the Steed Creek Chapel, located at 347 South 200 West in Farmington Utah. Family and friends are encouraged to gather and visit at the church beginning at 10:00am, one hour before the memorial. Burial services will follow at Farmington City Cemetery.

The family also wishes to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the staff at Country Care Assisted Living, the Intermountain Health Hospital, and Ovation Hospice for the care they provided to Gene during his final days.