Kirk Ray Monson

We feel that our dad was one of the greatest men to live and has now, after 73 years,

graduated from mortality. He was a man without guile, a loving and faithful husband, a gentle father, a proud grandfather, a teacher, a righteous priesthood holder, and a patriarch of his family. Most of all he was a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Although his passing is a blessing, we will miss him, never forget him, and try to honor him in the way we live our lives.

He was born to Ray & Elese Monson February 7, 1946. Kirk was raised in the same house that his father was raised in, located in Salt Lake City.  Upon returning from serving an LDS mission in Sydney, Australia for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he married Judy Haldeen Gunnell in the Salt Lake Temple on August 7, 1973 and they have been married for 45 years.  He served in the 328 General Hospital – US Army Reserve from March 15, 1970 – March 15, 1976. He received his B.S. degree from University of Utah in Art. He completed his Masters at Utah State University in Instructional Technology. Kirk taught art for 10 years at Centerville Junior High and then changed to the media center, where he was the Media Specialist for 28 years.

Creativity and enthusiasm were two of the many talents he used effectively throughout his life. His artwork has been published in several national magazines. “Color for Emphasis,” his master’s presentation, was purchased by Davis District and used as a BYU correspondence course. He also wrote and produced several excellent filmstrips and videos. The Kirk Monson family traveled to Nauvoo, Illinois for ten summers to participate in the “City of Joseph Pageant.” Set apart as a service missionary, Kirk did all the filming, editing and video recording for the show. He spent countless hours on creative projects and used his skills as an artist to portray and supply enjoyment for others. Whether it was through theater, art works, yearbooks, sound bites, parade floats, church slide shows, family histories, preparing and building sets, or Centerville T-shirts, when it came to media and art, you name it, he did it.

Kirk loved and enjoyed traveling with his family and seeing and learning about our Heavenly Father’s beautiful creations.  He spent hours and hours pouring over maps and travel books to make sure they wouldn’t miss a thing.  He took his family to 49 of the 50 states, took them all back to his mission in Australia, and visited his ancestral country of Sweden. 

Kirk is survived by his wife, Haldeen; Children: Sydney (Joe) Mellen, Heidi Hansen, Dean (Amber), Marie (Eric) Lemmon, Quin (Dani), and seventeen grandchildren; Three siblings: Ann Hardy, Gayle Hale, and Tracy. His parents preceded him in death.

The Monson family expresses their gratitude to Legacy Healthcare/Hospice for their care.

Family and friends may pay respects Thursday, April 18, 2019 at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah from 6 to 8 p.m. or Friday, April 19 at Rick’s Creek Chapel from 9:45 – 10:45 a.m.  Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m. (Rick’s Creek Chapel – 1475 North 50 East, Centerville, Utah) Burial will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery