Wels Burdell Mulford

Wels Burdell Mulford passed away in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his wife and children, on Tuesday March 4, 2025. Burdell was born in Richfield, Utah on January 13, 1955 to Wels and Wynona Mulford. A true Wayne county boy, Burdell spent his childhood making his own fun and mischief. Whether he was camping out in the “jungle”, floating down the canal with stolen watermelon, or pranking local motorists with a cardboard box tied to a rope, there was no shortage of laughter or shenanigans in the small towns of Torrey and Hanksville where Burdell spent his youth. An article written about Burdell and his friends once described him as “the real life Huckleberry Finn”. 

Burdell attended and graduated from Wayne High School. He was President of his class from 7th grade on, his crowning achievement being Student Body President his Senior Year. He was very active in school and participated in every sports program: Basketball, Baseball, and even Track and Field (one race). He even played Captain Von Trapp in the school musical, though he’d be quick to tell you they uninvited him from participating again.

After High School, Burdell served a life changing mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Anaheim, California. He served the majority of his mission as an assistant to the President. He credited President Rex Reeve with fostering and transforming his testimony of Jesus Christ. The sisters and elders he served with remained some of his closest friends throughout his life: lasting friendships forged through the service of others.

Burdell attended Utah State University where he earned two Bachelor’s Degrees, in Social Work and Accounting. Not to be outdone by other students, he accomplished all of his educational endeavours while battling cancer (Hodgkin's Lymphoma). While in the thick of his cancer treatments, he proposed to the love of his life, Jayne Chamberlin. He knew she’d be crazy to say “yes”. She took over a month to give him her answer, but ultimately chose faith over fear. They started their lives together on August 27, 1982 when they were married in the Ogden LDS Temple.

Burdell was the best dad to his four kids. He was industrious both at home and at work. It wasn’t unusual for Burdell to wake up at the crack of dawn. He was constantly busy doing freelance tax work in addition to his day job as an internal auditor and risk manager. Saturdays were reserved for back breaking yard work. Burdell was no stranger to the local dump and even helped a stranger find her diamond ring in knee deep refuse.

Burdell was larger than life and an expert storyteller. He could keep an audience captive for hours with the harrowing (and often wildly inappropriate) tales of his life. He fought forest fires, shouldered juvenile diabetes, coached hundreds of youth in soccer, and served his neighbors and friends with a tender love and care found in the truest disciples of Jesus Christ.

Burdell was preceded in death by his parents, Wels and Wynona, and his brother Mark. He is survived by his sisters: Carol and Deb, his wife: Jayne, his four children: Torrey (Judd), Jake (Steph), Taylor (Kate), and Paige (Preston), and his nine grand-children: Henry, Lucy, Maisey, Owen, Birdie, Grace, Olive, Eden, and Rudy.

Burdell loved his family with an unmatched ferocity. That love was returned in equal measure. Life feels less vibrant without Burdell’s unfettered light. He will be missed more than words can say. In the meantime, we will lean on his unshakable testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and trust that we will see him again soon.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, March 14th from 6-8 pm at Russon Mortuary in Farmington (1941 N Main Street, Farmington, UT 84025). Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 15th at 11 am at the Orchard Drive LDS Chapel in Fruit Heights (77 S Orchard Drive, Fruit Heights, UT 84037), the family will be available to visit before the funeral from 9:45 am - 10:45 am. 

The funeral service will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page (click here) and on this obituary page where it will appear 10-15 minutes prior to the service at 11 am.