1938 – 2021
Gordon Richard (Dick) Staker passed away at home in Cedar City, Utah May 18, 2021, at the age of 82. Gordon was born September 12, 1938, in Mt. Pleasant, Utah to Gordon LaVell Staker and Glenda Celestia Rigby. He and his sister Glendona (Charles) Hermansen were the pre-WWII children and his brothers Robert W. (Sheila) Staker, Charles R. Staker, and J. Edward (Sara) Staker were post-war children. He is preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Charles Staker, a grandson, Ryan Vincent Staker, and a nephew, Marc Hermansen.
Gordon and his wife, Beverly Graham, were married in the Manti, Utah temple, September 13, 1957. They recently celebrated their 63rd Wedding Anniversary. They are the parents of five children: Laura Ann (Alan) Bluemel of West Valley City, Utah; Debra (Dean) Brown of Antioch, California; Richard Todd Staker, of Meridian, Idaho; Vicki Lynn (Joseph) Bradley of Taylorville, Utah; and Eric Howard (Kristy) Staker of Harrisville, Utah.
Gordon had a deep love and respect for each member of his family and desired that each visit with grandchildren resulted in fond memories that could be recalled throughout life. He also developed an appreciation of his ancestry, gathering family history records and doing work for them in the temple.
His life was busy with little time wasted. His extra activities included: North Sanpete Jr. High student body president, North Sanpete Seminary president, and Snow College student body president. Gordon was a talented musician, playing the trumpet throughout high school and college. He played in three dance bands in the 1950s as well as more solemn occasions such as military funerals and Memorial Day services.
As a young man, he grew up with a love of the outdoors hunting and fishing and sought his life’s work in an occupation that would keep him close to nature. Gordon graduated from Snow College and Utah State University in the field of Natural Resource Management. He was also a graduate of both Snow College and Utah State University LDS Institutes of Religion and the University Of Montana School Of Administrative Leadership.
Gordon retired from the Bureau of Land Management in 1995 following 37 years of Federal Employment. Early in his career with the BLM, he served as the area manager of the Cedar City and Escalante Resource Areas. In 1974 Gordon was selected to participate in the Department of Interior Managerial Training Program in Washington D.C. and worked in the Legislation and Registration office in Washington D.C. He later served as district manager of the Baker, Oregon, and Cedar City, Utah Districts, and as the Chief of Resources in the Oregon-Washington State Office. He received the Department of Interior Meritorious Award in 1988.
The eldest son of a military man, Gordon grew up taking much responsibility for his parent’s family while his father was serving his country during World War II and the Korean War.
Following a Staker family tradition, Gordon was seventeen when he enlisted in the Utah National Guard where he served for eight years. During the Cuban Missile Crisis Gordon’s unit was activated through 1961-62 as an attachment to the U.S. Army.
Gordon was always found serving Heavenly Father whom he loved. He served as a bishop in Cedar City, Utah, Escalante, Utah, and Baker, Oregon, as Branch President in Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, and on the High Council of the Annandale, Virginia Stake, the Beaverton, Oregon, Stake, and the Cedar City, Utah Stake.
After retirement, he and his wife, Beverly, served five missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Russia Moscow Mission, the Hawaii Honolulu Mission, the New York Rochester Mission at the Hill Cumorah Historic Sites, the Ohio Cleveland Mission at the Kirtland Historic Sites, and the California Fresno Mission.
Gordon and his wife, Beverly, served for over five years as Temple Ordinance workers in St. George Temple.
Gordon was a fearless warrior for 23 years battling Parkinson's Disease.
The family expresses gratitude to Suntree Hospice, Ethan Bunker, and Adri for their tender care of their husband and father.
Funeral services were held at the Red Church, 50 State St., Mt. Pleasant, Utah Saturday, May 22, 2021, at 12:30 pm under the direction of Rasmussen Mortuary Interment at the Fairview City Cemetery with military rights. Online condolences may be sent at www.rasmussenmortuary.com/obituaries/. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Utah Food Bank.
