Thomas Lynn Pett
March 23, 1946 – January 11, 2023
Thomas Lynn Pett, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on January 11, 2023, at the age of 76. His final days were spent surrounded by his wife Georgia and all eight of his children.
Tom was always a supportive husband and father, and made family his priority throughout his life. He enjoyed people and was a kind, fun, gentle and loving man who was ever willing to lend a helping hand or spend a few minutes chatting.
Tom was born in Nyssa, Oregon on March 23, 1946 to Ezra Taft and Lucille Evans Pett. He was the fourth of five children growing up on a farm on the Snake River where there was no shortage of mischief, hard work, and good times. He graduated from Parma High School (Idaho), served as a young missionary in the Alaska Canadian Mission, and graduated from BYU. While at BYU, he dated Georgia Marie Gilgen, the love of his life, and they were married June 12,1970 in the Logan Utah temple. Together they managed the joy and chaos of raising eight children.
A lifetime lover of sports, he wrestled, played baseball, softball, racquetball, and was an enthusiastic fan of BYU sports. He loved spending time outdoors fishing and camping. He worked hard to provide for his family as an employee for several small businesses and eventually started his own. He always chose work opportunities that allowed him to be the coach, volunteer, or enthusiastic supporter for any and all of his children’s activities.
Tom was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with a strong testimony of the Savior’s love. He served in a variety of callings, but his favorites were with the youth, BYU student congregations, and nursery kids.
After retirement, Tom and Georgia left grandkids behind to travel halfway around the world to serve a humanitarian mission in Myanmar where they grew to love the wonderful people there. After returning home to his family, he managed to fit in several trips with Georgia before a stroke caused by his vascular dementia cut his adventures short. He spent his final years cared for at home where his humor and kindness continued to find ways to surface through his disease even to his last days.
Tom is survived by his wife Georgia; eight children: Sheryn (Sheldon) Nelson; Anna (Shane) Griffin; Joshua (Teresa) Pett; Hazen Pett; Spencer (Kristol) Pett; Emily (Ryan) Gillan; Andrew (Naoko) Pett; and Michael (Andrea) Pett; 29 grandchildren; 4 siblings: Stan (Judi) Pett; Marvin (Dianne-dec’d 2021) Pett; Clayton (Brenda) Pett; and Marceal (Stan) Manning. He was preceded in death by his parents Agnes Lucille Evans and Ezra Taft Pett, and grandson William Howard Pett.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 21 at 11 a.m. at the LDS Church on 50 S. 750 W. in Orem, Utah. Friends may visit with the family that morning at the church from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in the Malad City Cemetery around 3:30 p.m.