Cordell Monty Ferry

Henefer, Utah. Cordell Monty Ferry passed away on December 29, 2023 due to complications from mesothelioma. He passed in his home surrounded by his wife and family.

Cordell was born on December 14, 1944 in Ogden, Utah to Monty Owen Ferry and Lily Fern Fawcett.  He was an only child and always claimed that his parents went for quality over quantity. He grew up in Henefer, Utah with family and numerous cousins that he considered his siblings. He married Deon Barker on August 14, 1964 in the Logan Temple. They lived in St. George, Ogden, Sunnyside, Brigham City, Mantua and Henefer, Utah.

Cordell delighted in his family, especially his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Deon; children Steve (Angie), Ryan (Shellie), Paul (Jennilyn), Mitch (Angela), Megan and Lisa (Cale); 25 grandchildren; and 2 great grandchildren.

Cordell attended grade school in the old Henefer school house and grades 7-12 at North Summit High School.  He excelled in athletics at North Summit and attended Dixie College and Weber State college on football scholarships. He was most proud of playing on the only undefeated football team in Dixie College history and the team was later inducted into the Dixie College Hall of Fame.

Cordell graduated with a bachelor degree from Weber State College in physical education and recreation in 1969.

Cordell worked at East Carbon high school in Sunnyside, Utah as a basketball coach and teacher. He worked at Intermountain Indian School in Brigham City, Utah as a football and track coach, special education teacher and Special Olympics coach and leather craft teacher, then transitioned into student enterprises where he ran the after-school and evening programs for the students. In 1981 he started working at Hill Air Force Base where he was the Outdoor Recreation Director for most of his career taking military and civilians on various high adventure outdoor trips until he retired in 2011.

Cordell enjoyed watching his kids and grandchildren participate in activities.  He loved hunting deer and elk and most enjoyed hunting with his dad and later with his children and grandchildren.  He loved riding horses. He also loved camping and fishing in the Uinta’s wilderness area and made numerous trips with friends, family, and scout troops over the years.  He later learned to love fishing in Alaska and spent 4 to 6 weeks with his wife every summer in Alaska. He loved spending winters on his snowmobile, snowmobiling with friends and family.  He enjoyed his membership in the Sons of the Utah Pioneers. He also loved the family farm in Henefer.

Cordell was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where he served as a Sunday School teacher,  Athletic Director, Scoutmaster, Missionary, in the Bishopric and Elders Quorum but his favorite calling was the relationships he made with his home teaching (and ministering) families.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Father and Mother-in Law Don and DeNece Barker.

A very special thanks to all the lifelong friends from Dixie, Sunnyside, Mantua, Henefer and Hill Air Force Base who have always been such a great joy and support.  Thank you to our children and grandchildren who supported and helped take care of grandpa.  Thanks to doctors Stringham, Low, Allen and Jeanette Vernon. A special thanks to Corey Ann Blonquist for her hospice support in Cordell’s last days.

Viewings will be held at Henefer LDS Church, 708 North Main, Henefer, Utah 84033 on Friday January 5, 2024 from 6:00-8:00pm and Saturday January 6, 2024 from 9:30 – 10:45 am and the funeral services will follow at 11:00am. Interment will be at the Henefer Cemetery.