Sergay Douglas Liston

Funeral Service: Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., Russon Mortuary Chapel, 295 N. Main Street, Bountiful, Utah.

Sergay Douglas Liston a much-loved father, brother and grandfather, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, April 12, 2026, with his two daughters by his side. Sergay was born on June 5, 1937, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to parents Douglas Liston and Lorena K. Hertler.

Sergay was the oldest of five children: Novel Liston, Danon Liston, Kalian Liston, and Carolyn Voltz. Shortly after Sergay’s birth, his father graduated from the University of Michigan and they drove across the country to live in Utah.

When Sergay was a young child, his family bought a cattle ranch in Montana where they homesteaded for one year. Then back to Bountiful, Utah, where one year later they moved to Idaho to run a dairy farm. Once again, the family moved back to Bountiful where they remained.

While at Davis High, Sergay met and dated Gwen Blomquist who was attending Bountiful High. Sergay graduated from Davis High in 1955 then went on to University of Utah for one year. He applied and was accepted to the University of Michigan. Sergay and Gwen were married in the fall and moved to Michigan where he gained a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Aeronautical Engineering) degree. During this time Sergay and Gwen had two children, Kirt and Laura, and moved back to settle in Utah.

Sergay was quickly employed by Hercules, Inc. as directed by the United State Government in the development of rocket fuel propellant to help with the Vietnam War effort. At some point Sergay could no longer continue to develop rockets that took human life. His professional path took him to the Thiokol Astro-Met Division as Manager Flight Performance Analysis. He was part of many responsible for aerodynamic and trajectory analysis for moon landing of Apollo Lunar Module in 1969.

Throughout the rest of his professional life, Sergay continued to manage design teams, and use his knowledge in Engineering to develop several new automated systems and vehicles. These systems and vehicles were used in operating a GM Automobile assembly line, storage and retrieval warehousing systems, and in a coal-fired power generation plant in New Mexico. During this period of his life, he became the father of two more children, Shane and Kari.

Sergay was also a night school Instructor at the University of Utah in Statics, Dynamics, Strength of Materials, Thermodynamics, and Material Science for 11 years.

Sergay loved to collect and rebuild classic cars and was an avid gun collector. He founded the Corvette Club of Utah in 1965. He used his engineering knowledge to help the team with the Vesco Turbinator race car, which made a land speed record of over 420 mph at the Bonneville Speedway Speed Week Race in 1999.

Sergay invented and developed mechanical mechanisms which were patented through the United States Patents Department: Four design patent applications filed, three granted.

Sergay was a great father taking his family on many adventures. Together they all enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, riding motorcycles and exploring National Parks throughout the country and Canada while pulling their travel trailer. He taught his children the love of family, the importance of education and hard work, and that you can do anything you want as long as you “Put your mind to it”. He made sure that each child would have the opportunity to attend the college of their choice. Throughout his years, he attended numerous grandchildren’s birthdays, sporting events and dance recitals. He often took his grandchildren hunting, fishing and range shooting, and created a loving relationship with each one.

Survived by daughters, Laura (Kent) Williams, and Kari (Scott) Cahoon. Grandchildren: Eric Wood, Sean Liston, Matt Liston, Kyle Williams, Nickolas Williams, Tarron Liston, Madeline Liston, Claire Liston, Nate Cahoon, Mitch Cahoon and ten great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by sons Shane (Kim) Liston and Kirt Liston.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Russon Mortuary Chapel, 295 N. Main Street, Bountiful, Utah. A visitation will be held Saturday from 9:15-9:45 a.m. at the mortuary prior to services.