Lamont Gail Cragun

Lamont (Lee) Gail Cragun was born on June 28, 1944 in Oakland California, and returned peacefully to his Father in Heaven on March 13th, 2025, in his home in West Valley City, Utah after a 10-year battle with cancer. He experienced many physical trials during the past 40 years of his life courageously, and endured them all without becoming bitter, or losing hope in The Savior’s beautiful plan of happiness. Lamont was extraordinarily kind and generous to all he met, right until the end.

Lamont was the first child born to Calvin Gail Cragun and Florence Mae Jackson. Lamont was born while his father was away serving in WWII as a B-24 bomber in occupied Europe, and met his dad for the first time at 2 months old. Lamont was soon joined by a sister Colleen, and brother Byron. When Lamont was 4, his family moved to Germany on a military assignment. Lamont fondly remembered skipping kindergarten one day and exploring Germany with a fellow kindergartener. His youngest sister, Roberta, was born in Germany.

Lamont’s parents divorced when he was 8 years old. Lamont continued elementary school in California, where he was an excellent student, and a natural in baseball, football, and wrestling. In junior high he went to live with his father Calvin and stepmother Barbara in Nebraska. There he learned to work hard, and became a champion wrestler. Lamont lived in Michigan for his sophomore and junior years of high school, then returned to California for his senior year. Lamont was offered many college football scholarships, but on a graduation trip to Germany with his dad, he decided to enlist in the army. He served in the states, France, and Germany until 1966.

While attending the University of Utah studying mathematics, Lamont met Kathy DeGraw on a blind date, and in June 1969 he, Kathy, and her 4-year-old daughter Suzy created a new family. Their first daughter Michelle, was born a year later, followed by 3 sons, Michael, Bryan, and Jeff. Lamont & Kathy bought a home in the then Granger 16th Ward in 1971, where they raised their family and lived until their deaths. Lamont served in many capacities in the ward, including bishopric executive secretary and second counselor, primary and Sunday school teacher, service coordinator, and faithful home teacher and minister.

Lamont began working for Hill Air Force Base as a computer programmer, and joined the Utah National Guard in 1977 as a German linguist. In 1981 he became a counterintelligence agent, specializing in national security, foreign intelligence, terrorist interrogation, and translation in German and Arabic. He had many training trips in Germany and Korea. When asked what he did there, he would say “If I tell you I would have to kill you.” He wasn’t joking. In 2002, Lamont was called up for active-duty security detail for the Salt Lake Winter Olympics, and then again to serve in Bosnia during the Gulf War from July 2002- April 2003, when he retired from the military, as a decorated Master Sergeant and expert marksman. He enjoyed being able to have more time with his family, hobbies, and traveling.

Lamont enjoyed golfing, collecting stamps, coins, and model cars, and playing and listening to ‘boogie-woogie’ music. He loved starting up conversations with strangers wherever he went, he wanted everyone to know that they were noticed and cared for. He was a true ‘audiophile’, having the best stereo systems and coolest vinyl record collection. His house was famous at Halloween where kids who dared could see him dressed up in his Planet of the Apes mask and green camo, with the reel-to-reel hi-fi playing spooky music. His beautiful green and manicured lawn was the envy of the neighborhood and a favorite play place for his children, grand and great.

Lamont’s wife Kathy passed away in 2014, and shortly after Lamont began spending time with Cleta Johnson, a single member of the ward. They married in July 2015, and soon after Lamont was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He fought a very courageous battle, enduring many painful treatments. Lamont and Cleta selflessly cared for his mother in their home during the last year of her life. Cleta lovingly cared for Lamont during their entire marriage, allowing him 10 more years on this earth. Lamont loved teaching his primary class with Cleta and was heartbroken when he no longer had the strength to continue.

Lamont’s goals were to make it to his 80th birthday, outlive his mother, and make sure his dear Cleta was taken care of. He achieved all of these through hard work, determination and the Grace of Heavenly Father. Lamont left this earth with a strong testimony of his Savior Jesus Christ and His infinite Atonement, knowing that he would reunite with his loved ones who preceded him in death.

Lamont is survived by his wife, Cleta Cragun (Johnson), sisters - Colleen Harris (Morgan) and Roberta Cragun, half-brother Morrell Harris (Carrie), half-sisters Kaya Cragun and Kerrina Cragun, step-daughter Suzy Zahler, daughter Michelle Jensen (Joe), sons Mike Cragun, Bryan Cragun (Kaylene), and Jeff Cragun, 17 grandchildren (9 spouses), and 9 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at the Granger 15th Ward; 3175 South 3450 West, West Valley City, Utah with a viewing beginning at 9:00 AM. Friends and family may visit with the family Tuesday evening from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Memorial Redwood Mortuary; 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah. Interment; Memorial Redwood Cemetery.