Events
Graveside Service
1950 E 10600 S, Sandy, UT 84092Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery
Saturday Oct 19, 2024 11:00 AM
Mitchell H. Goodspeed, 77, of Mesquite Nevada passed away October 11, 2024 in St. George, Utah from a hard-fought battle with cancer. Mitch was born October 4, 1947 in Moab, Utah to Ralph Keith & Mildred Young Goodspeed. His father died when Mitch was only 4. His mother later married Merrill (Joe) Windley. Mitch spent many years of his youth working on the family ranch in the Moab area, which he remembered fondly. Mitch moved to Salt Lake City when he was about 7, and graduated from Granite High School. After graduation he moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and attended LSU studying Landscape Architecture. There he met and in 1968 married Carolyn Rome, with whom he had 4 children (Rome, Janette, Kevin & Rani) who he adored greatly. They later divorced but remained good friends the rest of his life.
Mitch married Debra Nelson in 1986 in Evanston, Wyoming; they would have celebrated their 38th anniversary in December. With that marriage he gained a stepdaughter Jill, who he loved as his own. Mitch enjoyed camping, boating and fishing; Flaming Gorge was one of his favorite places. He also enjoyed gardening and spending time in his yard, which he took immense pride in. The 4th of July was a special holiday for him, and he enjoyed celebrating in his yard with family and friends. Mitch was an avid woodworker and built beautiful pieces of furniture. He loved tinkering in his garage and yard and could always be found fixing or maintaining something. He was a proud American and flew the flag faithfully at his home. He and Debra were also active members of VFW Post 4280 in Evanston, Wyoming for over a decade.
Mitch proudly served in the U.S. Army and spent a year in Vietnam in the 1st Cavalry Division from 1968-1969 and was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for valor, 3 Bronze Service Stars, an Air Medal, and many other commendations. After returning home from Vietnam, he lived in Colorado Springs and Baton Rouge, and in 1971 he & Carolyn moved to Arizona to work for an electrical contractor. From there he became a Journeyman Lineman, working in Utah and Wyoming for the next 41 years. His career took him from Louisiana to Arizona to Utah and then to Evanston, Wyoming, where he lived until 2022 when he & Debra moved to Mesquite, Nevada to escape the cold winters.
Mitch is survived by his wife Debra, his children Rome (Shane) Simpson of Hooper, Utah; Janette Hovey of Trinity, Florida; Kevin Goodspeed of Salt Lake City, Utah; Jill (Felix) Thomason of Greenfield, Indiana; and Rani (Andrew) Hiller of Farmington, Utah; 15 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and his siblings Keith (Lynn) Goodspeed of Roosevelt, Utah; Dennis (Estella) Goodspeed of Edwards, Colorado; Marilyn (Gordon –deceased) Burt of Sandy, Utah; and Greg Windley of Salt Lake City, Utah. He was preceded in death by his father, mother and stepfather.
A viewing will be held at Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary (1950 E. 10600 S., Sandy, Utah) on Saturday, October 19 from 9:00-10:45, followed by a graveside service at 11:00 with full military honors.
Guestbook/Condolences
Sending love from Texas. It’s always hard to lose someone you love. Larry and I have all of you in our thoughts and prayers.
Larry and Cindy Ishee
We are so very sorry for your loss 📉 Thia saddens us as well. We are are Praying for peace in your soul during this time, also safe travels for everyone 🙏 We love you Deb ❤️
You will be missed. Our condolences to the Goodspeed family. Love you Debby.
We met Mitch in 1983 when we moved to Wyoming! Dan joined him in working as a Journeyman Lineman for UP&L!
We all had great times up in Evanston even in the winter we would be out four wheeling tubing, playing polar bear softball just making the most of the winter there.
On a trip out to California we stopped in Evanston and turned towards Utah power and passed the truck and it was Mitch we pulled up and what was the Boomtown parking lot and talked for a very long time. It was great reminiscing.
In February, we went to Mesquite and visited Mitch and Debbie the guys getting together was just great fun for all!
Dean Larsen was there and he and Mitch had worked together longer than he and Dan they had been together in Salt Lake City so it was just a great reunion!
He was a great guy and I know he’s going to be greatly missed and we send our condolences to his entire family.
Kevin,
So sorry to hear of your father's passing. He sounds like he was a great father and one whom you seem to have followed in the footsteps of, with your love for working with wood!! A good man gone to soon but the good lives on in his children for sure!!!
My heart is so broken to hear of this. When I started at Rocky Mountain Power, he was our troubleshooter. He was so kind and patient and he will deeply be missed. My condolences to the family. I’m sending lots of prayers and love for their way.
Deb I am so sorry to hear about mitch he was such a great person
Kevin, when someone we love dies, they take a piece of our sole with them onto their next journey, that is why it hurts so bad, but they leave a little piece of their sole with us, that's why we never forget them. Losing your dad hurts but, he will always be with you, and you will never forget him.
My love and prayers go out to you and your family.
Mike McKnight
So sorry to hear this! I worked with Mike in Evanston.
Debbie and family, So So sorry for your loss. We are here for you what ever when ever we can help. Please know our hearts and thoughts are with you. May you find joy in good memories. So sorry not to be there you know why . Love love you...
So sorry to hear about Mitch's passing. Sending my deepest condolences to Deb, Jill, Connor and the rest of the Goodspeed family. Although I knew him as a rather quiet man, I still enjoyed the times we visited. I apologize circumstances did not allow me to attend services. Mitch, you will be missed.
He was a good man. My condolences to his family and other dear friends.