Dec. 18, 1938-Sept. 20, 2022
On Sept. 20. 2022, Douglas Craig Godwin, age 83, returned to his Savior and his Father in Heaven, leaving this world with joy and facing the next with anticipation. He left his family a legacy of gratitude, curiosity, compassion and charity.
Doug was born on Dec. 18, 1938, in East Ely, Nevada, to Reston A. and Ione (Buchanan) Godwin. He was raised in Ruth and Ely with his two younger brothers, Steve (now deceased) and Ken. He attended BYU where he lettered in baseball, interrupting his education for a 2-year mission in Northern California for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, followed by six months of boot camp for the National Guard, before resuming his undergraduate studies.
While he was at BYU he met his wife of 58 years, Judy Merkley. He gave her his name in the Mesa Arizona Temple on June 24, 1964. After graduation, he moved his young family to Shiprock, New Mexico, where he developed the Head Start program and organized a preschool for the Navajo Nation with his colleague Richard Mike. He returned to Arizona and earned a Master’s degree from Arizona State University. Later, he completed his PhD at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.
Doug accepted an offer from Texas A&M University and taught Early Childhood Education there for 28 years, retiring in 2001. That same year, he and Judy moved to St. George, Utah, where he helped develop the Multicultural Education and ESL program as Dixie State (now Utah Tech) transitioned to a four-year university. He retired in 2006 for health reasons. Not satisfied to leave his field, he volunteered for CASA, where he could continue to advocate for children.
Doug leaves his wife Judy and four children, his son Bob and Joy (Smithfield, Utah), daughter Deb (St. George, Utah), son Kenneth (St. George, Utah), and son Jim and Diana (Kaysville, Utah). He also leaves eight grandchildren, Amee Godwin, Paige and Jarhed Pena, Reston and Jessica Godwin, Elizabeth and Kaden Balls, Cristian Godwin, Micheal Godwin, Christopher “Kipper” Godwin and Jonathan Godwin; and two great-grandchildren, Mia and Milo Pena. He is also survived by his brother Ken and Cindi (Lehi, Utah) and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Friday Sept. 30, 2022, at 11 a.m. in the Green Valley 6th Ward chapel at 124 Valley View Drive. A viewing will begin at 9:30 am at the same location. Interment at Tonaquint Cemetery under the direction of McMillan Mortuary. The funeral will be live-streamed on the funeral the McMillan Mortuary website.