Gary Neil Mumford
Gary Neil Mumford was born to Glademere E. and Ruth Nelson Mumford on August 5, 1944, in Montpelier, Idaho. He was raised by and later adopted and sealed to his paternal grandparents Byron Edward and Nora Mumford, also of Montpelier. He attended public schools in Montpelier and graduated from Montpelier High School in the class of 1962. He played basketball and football for Montpelier High School.
He was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a mission to Canada.
Growing up, he was privileged to work alongside his grandfather in the sheep business and was taught to grow food by Grandma and Grandpa. His lawn and garden in later years was testimony to their pride in their land. He was also privileged to have in his sights one Janet Larsen, who lived a few blocks away from him. They dated during high school and married on June 1, 1967, in the Logan, Utah temple.
Gary was drafted into the United States Army shortly after their marriage, and was in Fort Sam Houston, Texas when their first daughter, Kimberly was born. He was deployed to Vietnam and served from 1968-69 in Bien Hoa. He finished his military service at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, where their second daughter Stephanie was born.
He trained as a Dental Laboratory Technician at Ricks College and Portland Community College, and relocated his family to Soda Springs, Idaho to open a lab. When business became tight, he went to work for Monsanto and retired from that company in 2006. He continued to use his goldsmithing abilities to create jewelry for friends and family.
The couple added three more children to their family in their years in Soda Springs- Neil, Ryan and Lindsay.
He continued to play church basketball and city league softball and basketball for several years. He passed on his love of sports to most of his children, as well as his many hunting skills.
His love of the outdoors propelled him into his participation in the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation, where he served as president for a term.
He served as a High Councilor in the Soda Springs, Idaho Stake, and multiple other callings within the church.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Janet Larsen Mumford, his brother Michael D. Mumford, and his five children- Kimberly Mumford, Stephanie Whitted (Jeremy), Neil Mumford (Angie), Ryan Mumford (Megan) and Lindsay Young (Bart). He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his sister Diana, his grandson Ian Gary Person, and his grandparents Byron and Nora.
Funeral Services will be held at the Hooper L.D.S. Church on Friday, March 28th at noon. Visitation will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. before the service. Funeral arrangements are handled by Sims Funeral Home in Soda Springs, Idaho.
