Jeffrey Scott Willson

Jeffrey S. Willson

March 17, 1979 - January 6, 2026

Jeffrey Scott Willson, 46, adored husband, father, son, and friend passed away in his home surrounded by family on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, after a courageous five year battle with glioblastoma, the most aggressive type of brain cancer. True to form, Jeff outlived every prognosis given him and stayed hopeful and faithful throughout.

He was born on March 17, 1979, in San Luis Obispo, California, to Myron Willson and Patricia Quigley Sudweeks. From a young age, Jeff's contagious smile and kind, caring personality made people feel seen and valued. He made friends everywhere he went. As a teenager, he was known for his playful ability to make any situation fun, often pulling his siblings into light-hearted shenanigans that became family legends. He was raised in both San Luis Obispo and Brentwood, California and as a youth had many interests including swimming, waterskiing, quad-riding, volleyball, scouts, performing and singing, and creating memories with friends and family.

After graduating from Liberty Union High School, Jeff attended Brigham Young University for a year before serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Rosario, Argentina, from 1998 to 2000. His mission built a foundation of faith that remained a guiding force throughout his life. He affectionately shared his mission experiences and love for the people he served often and without reservation.

After returning from his mission and continuing at BYU, Jeff began dating the love of his life, Jaimi Ann Collette, and they were married for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on September 21, 2002. Best friends and true confidants, Jeff and Jaimi worked together through challenges to build a happy, peaceful family life rooted in faith, love, and adventure.

Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in finance from Brigham Young University and later graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with dual master's degrees in Hospital Administration and Business Administration. He began his career by being chosen as one of two fellows to participate in the executive fellowship program for California's largest healthcare company. When presented with the opportunity to step into the unknown and start a new venture, Jeff left California to start working with his father-in-law and brothers-in-law. They spent the next 20 years building a successful healthcare company of their own. Jeff valued the professional challenge, but what mattered most to him were his partner brothers, the colleagues he worked alongside, and the multi-state communities they served over the years. While he achieved much professionally, Jeff unequivocally considered his greatest success to be his stalwart sons and his beautiful daughters and wife.

He was a devoted and immensely proud father to six children: Austin, Trent, Taylor, Ari, Landrie, and Kate. He took his responsibility as their father seriously and led his family with love, patience, kindness, and consideration. The highlight of his day was reading stories and singing lullabies far past bedtime. He planned grand backpacking excursions for the family, eventful off-roading trips, and singlehandedly taught every one of his children to ski. Jeff brought light and laughter into everyday living. He spent years coaching his boys' sports teams, never missing a sporting event, musical performance, or dance recital for any of his children. He cheered their successes and buoyed them through their failures. Jeff and Jaimi lived by a simple motto: "Invite adventure," a principle they shared with their children through travel, experiences, and relationships.

Beyond his professional and personal devotions, Jeff was a steadfast, loyal disciple of Jesus Christ. He was blessed with the gift of testimony and bore strong witness of the joy that comes from a life centered on Jesus Christ. He spent his life serving in numerous capacities for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and almost always with the youth of the church. He was interested in their lives, cared about their futures, and loved them each individually. He treasured the relationships with those he served alongside and formed unbreakable bonds of friendship.

Jeff will be remembered for his unwavering faith, his unconditional love for his family, his sense of humor, and the way he made others feel important through his genuine interest and concern for other people. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him.

Jeff is survived by his wife Jaimi, and his six children: Austin, Trent, Taylor, Ari, Landrie, and Kate. Jeff is also survived by his parents Wayne and Patricia Sudweeks, Myron and Beverly Hanson Willson, and his siblings Stacey (Dallan) Huff, Jillian (Nic) Johnson, Brayden Sudweeks, Dustin (Chelsea) Sudweeks, and Amber (Chris) Harvey.

The Willson family wishes to share our heartfelt gratitude to our family for tirelessly being by Jeff's side throughout the past five years. We also wish to extend our sincere thanks to the incredible staff at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, and Utah Home Health and Hospice for the compassionate care given to Jeff despite overwhelming odds. We would also like to express gratitude to the many loved ones in our community and beyond who have shown constant support and love to our family. We will be forever grateful.

The funeral service will be held Friday, January 16, 2026, at 11:00am at:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Eagle Rock Chapel

825 Hawks Rest Drive

Mapleton, UT 84664

We've been deeply touched by the many people asking how they can support our family-here's how: Jaimi would love to collect all the stories, memories, photos, audio files, and videos friends and family have of Jeff to pass on to her children and future grandchildren. Please share yours, no matter how big or small, to Jeffrey's remembrance page linked at: https://www.nelsonmortuary.com/obituaries/jeffrey-willson-2026

or email to: jeffwillsonmemories@gmail.com. And please don't forget the double L's in Willson. :)

In lieu of flowers, please share a memory of Jeff or donations may be made to the General Missionary Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.