Lee Darrell Godsey, Sr.

Lee Darrell Godsey Sr., 84, of Clearfield, UT, passed peacefully from this earth surrounded by his family in the early hours of October 18, 2025, after battling health complications. Born June 9, 1941, in Tillamook, Oregon, Lee was a proud United States Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam-era Thailand as a logistics specialist, honorably completing 20 years of active-duty service before retiring in 1981 at the rank of Technical Sergeant.

His career in the Air Force was a shining example of his steady, unwavering nature. He approached both his service and his life with an astonishing level of wit, calmness, and commitment—qualities often hidden by his deeply humble personality.

A loving father to five children, Lee was fiercely devoted to his family, his country, and his faith. He was the kind of person who appreciated the small joys in life and deeply cared for those around him, always striving to show kindness, find the silver lining, and bring a smile to everyone he could. He could always be counted on to share a joke, was rarely seen without one of his signature hats, and was always ready to explore new places or go on an adventure.

While he spent most of his youth in the towering forests and rolling farmlands of rural northern California and western Oregon, the Air Force eventually brought him to Utah, where he fell in love with the mountains and Utah’s unique brand of the great outdoors. His love of nature—something he shared with several of his grandchildren—kept him energetically exploring well into his later years, hiking trails that would make even experienced hikers weary.

But nature was only one of his great loves—sports was not far behind. From a young age, Lee was a sports enthusiast, lettering in football, baseball, and basketball in high school. He was a devoted Dallas Cowboys fan, tuning in every Sunday of football season to cheer on his team through the highest of highs and lowest of lows. The truest kind of sports lover, he was also a lifelong supporter of the Utah Jazz, the San Francisco Giants, and English Premier League soccer.

A storyteller at heart, Lee was always ready with a fun tale, but there was nothing more dear to him than his family. While he was shy in some regards, he was never shy about those he held dear—whether it was telling his grandchildren about his own grandparents so they would feel as if they’d known them, reminiscing with his children about his youth, or sharing his pride in his children and grandchildren with friends.

Lee’s legacy lives on in the stories of others, in the memories his children now share and the families they’ve built, and in the achievements and fearless adventures of his grandchildren. While he has left this earth and found peace, his memory and love will be felt far into the future.

Lee is survived by his five children: Ruth Laura (Jay), Karen Lynn, Lee Darrell Jr. (Eve), Katherine Marie (Patrick), and J.A., as well as his older sister Jean, younger brother Earl (Judy), and one other sibling. He is also survived by his grandchildren Joshua, Andrew, Shaylee, and Keiman, as well as several great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his grandson Michael Shane, who, along with Lee’s parents, will be reunited with him now as he finds rest in the hereafter.

A memorial service to celebrate Lee’s life will be held Saturday, Oct. 25 at 10:30am at the Wasatch Church of Christ (145 West, 800 North, Clearfield UT, 84015). In lieu of flowers, the family encourages loved ones to donate in honor of Lee to Operation Honor Guard (https://www.operationhonorguard.us/).