Jack Edgar Huff

Jack Edgar Huff was called home to his Heavenly Father early in the morning on June 8, 2019 at the age of 81. Jack was born August 28, 1937 in Salt Lake City to Ruth Dowdle, and adoptive father John Edgar Huff. After a long and brave battle with Parkinson’s disease, he is now resting comfortably and happily in the arms of his Savior.

He was a proud graduate of West High class of 1955. He married his first wife Helene Stephen in 1957 and had 6 children. He left them a love for music and the arts, and gave them opportunities to improve their talents. They got divorced in 1977.

Jack was extremely proud of his time in the Military. Late into his life he enjoyed telling stories about his service, and the people that he met. He joined the Navy in 1954, and then four years later switched to the army, where he served two tours in Vietnam and was discharged in 1977. He loved the people of Vietnam. One of his fondest memories from his time in the service was building a school for a village that had been bombed out.

After his discharge he met and married Laurel Walker Huff on October 8, 1979. They had eight children together and made sure all of them could swim and do music. Jack worked for Mountain Bell, which would become USwest, Qwest, and eventually Century Link as a repair technician using skills that he learned in the Army.

Jack loved to go fishing with his father-in- law and sons. Even though often the only thing they would catch was a King Kong Cone from Macey’s on the way home, he cherished that time with his family and had many fish stories to tell. He loved to support his children in their many activities. Some of his favorite things to do were, perform plays at Hale Center Theater, sing with the Utah Opera company, and to yell at the referees at his children’s sporting events. He loved his grandchildren. Near the end, when it was very difficult for him to move or speak, you could still see his eyes light up and a smile cross his face when his grandchildren were around. Jack was extremely proud of all of his children and loved to tell stories about them to anybody who would listen.

Jack loved his Savior. He had a strong testimony of His reality and His role in forgiving sins. His relationship with his Savior and the atonement shaped his entire life and that of his wife and children. He exemplified a life of repentance and is overcome with joy at being reunited with his Savior and with family already waiting for him.

Jack was a great teacher. He taught his whole life through his example of faithfulness, sacrifice, and love for his Savior. Even through his waning years when he struggled with Parkinson’s, he still taught his children and others about service, kindness, and positivity. One of the things he passed on to his children was his sense of humor. Jack was never one to pass up an opportunity for a joke, years ago, a blood clot broke off and went into his lungs. He collapsed unconscious on the floor and came very near to death. After being taken to the hospital by ambulance, the nurse tried to ask him where he had hit when he fell. Barely conscious, he removed his oxygen mask and replied, “Nurse, I hit the floor!” He had the entire emergency room in stitches.

He is preceded in death by mother and father; son Kevin Joseph Huff; brothers’ Jed and Richard; and sister Linda.

He is survived by his ex-wife, Helene Stephen; and children Jake Huff (Donna), Michael Huff (Susan), Debbie Huff, Rebecca Huff, Sarah Jebian (Brian); wife, Laurel Walker Huff, Carrie Morris (Matt), Jared Huff (Rachel), Anna Carver (Ryan), Matthew Huff (Amy), Timbrell Knight (Brian), Adam Huff (Michelle), Seth Huff (Alexa), Sam Huff; sisters Julie Taylor and Pam Mclean; and by 31 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on June 12th at 11:00 AM at the LDS Chapel located at 5823 South 4800 West. A viewing will be held before that at 10:00 AM. Another viewing will be held at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road, from 6:00-8:00 PM on the evening of June 11th. Interment, Elysian Burial Gardens.

We are very appreciative to the loving care given Jack during his hospice experience through Brighton Hospice, Inspiration Hospice and Good Shepherd Hospice.

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