Melvin Farnsworth

Melvin Taylor Farnsworth crossed from this life to the next on August 7, 2025, exactly two weeks after his sweetheart, Renee, in Santa Clara, Utah.

Mel was born on March 1, 1935, to Alvin Taylor Farnsworth and Melba Thurston Farnsworth in Richfield, Utah. He was the oldest of two boys, and dearly loved his brother, Newell.

As a young man, Mel served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) in what was then the Northern States Mission. It was there that he began his life long love for Native Americans. After his mission, Mel served in the US Army reserves from 1957-1963. He attended and graduated from Brigham Young University. While there, he was active in Native American organizations & the Eagle's Eye publication. Mel then went to the University of Utah, where he received his Master's Degree in Social Work. This was the beginning of a very long and fulfilling career. He worked as a probation officer for the Juvenille Court system and LDS Employment Services. He also worked with many Native American youth in the Indian Placement Program.

While living in Arizona, at the age of 31, Mel met his sweetheart, Renee Hansen. It was love at first sight! On February 12, 1966, they were married in the Idaho Falls, Idaho LDS Temple. They quickly began a family, which grew to include: Tiffany (Gearhart), Heidi (Hastings), Andrea (Barnhart), John (Farnsworth), Heather (Jenkins), Stephen (Farnsworth), Sabra (Palmer), Nadia (Drake), Tara (Price), and Joshua (Farnsworth). Mel was so proud of having ten children.

Mel and Renee lived and raised their ten children in Arizona, Georgia, and then spent 20 years in Annabella, Utah. Mel loved his ancestral home of Annabella and had huge organic gardens, where he put his family to work! He had to irrigate his gardens, and really enjoyed the process and results. He loved hiking up to the base of Cove Mountain. Mel enjoyed taking his family to the cemeteries in Annabella and Richfield to learn about his ancestors. Family history was so important to him. He was the bishop of his LDS Ward in Annabella for several years. Mel and Renee taught their children to love people of all races and backgrounds. They drove them all around Mexico three times, for a month each time! Mel loved people and never met a stranger. He had an extensive collection of Native American and Mexican pottery, rugs, jewelry, paintings and baskets, which he cherished. He even had a Navajo hogan built onto their Annabella home. Mel frequently drove all around the Navajo Reservations visiting families for the Placement Program.

In 1990, Mel and Renee packed up and moved their children, those who were still at home, to Rapid City, South Dakota, for a few years. Later, they returned to Utah where they resided in Provo until he retired. He learned to love working out and going to the gym, which was mostly a social club for him. Mel and Renee lived near the LDS Missionary Training Center, and he served there in a leadership capacity, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He became very involved with the Tibetan community in Utah. One of Mel's greatest honors was meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama and presenting him with a copy of the Book of Mormon.

Upon retiring, Mel and Renee became the very first LDS missionaries called to serve in the Perpetual Education Fund in Santiago, Chile, for 2 years. They traveled all over Chile and adjoining countries. After their mission, they retired to Ivins, Utah, where they built a Santa Fe style home in Kayenta. They really loved their years there, and their art collections fit their home perfectly. They made many friends. Mel and Renee continued their church service and served a nine year mission in the LDS Native American Branch, where they had great experiences and gained many very cherished friends.

Mel loved to read and was a life long student. He had an extensive library. He kept daily journals for decades. He really enjoyed propagating plants and loved interesting looking chickens. He loved to collect and plant cacti in their yard. He liked rocks. A huge highlight of Mel's life was traveling the world with Renee. They spent time in Africa, where they fell in love with the people, of course. They traveled to Norway, England, Iceland, Alaska, Germany, Spain, Hawaii, Italy and more. Mel's great love of people grew with each place he visited. He loved to sing and would often do it loudly to wake his children up. Mel especially enjoyed ice cream! He almost always had a big smile on his face.

With unwavering faith, and a great love of his Savior, Jesus Christ, Mel often said, "I know Him, I know Him, I know Him." After serving so many of His children and loving the scriptures, he really did know Him. Mel loved his family and often bragged about the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren. He cherished his sons and daughters-in-law: Daniel Gearhart, Scott Hastings, Vincent Barnhart, Michelle Farnsworth, Colby Jenkins, Clifford Palmer and Laura Farnsworth. His beloved posterity includes his many grandchildren: Asia, Natalia, Uintah, Sierra, Cassidi, Sadie, Emilee, Hunter, Gideon, Ammon, Benjamine, Ephraim, Sophia, Noah, Nya, Tasia, Samantha, Olivia, Madeline, Zachary, Kamilah, Isabella, Quinn, Kellyn, Chandler, Catherine, Connor, Ronin, Joseph, Peter, Abigail and Ethan. Also, great-grandchildren Milo, William, Dreyk and Nova. Mel prayed with Renee for all of them at least twice a day.

Renee passed from this life shortly before Mel on July 24th, 2025. For decades they sang, "A You're Adorable," to each other every night before bed. He just didn't want to be without his lifelong companion and couldn't wait to join her.

A viewing will be held for both Mel and Renee at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, UT from 4:00 - 6:00 pm, Sunday, August 17. Monday, August 18 will be another viewing at the LDS Chapel 630 Riesling Ave, Santa Clara, UT starting at 9:30 am with the funeral following at 11:00 am. Interment will be at the Santa Clara City Cemetery following the service.

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, UT. 435-673-2454.

Friends and family are invited to sign Mel's online guest book at www.SpilsburyMortuary.com