Stephen William Burnett

1971 - 2025

Stephen William Burnett

1971 ~ 2025

Stephen William Burnett, beloved son, brother, and father passed away unexpectedly on November 6, 2025, in Salt Lake City at the age of 54. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah to Kenneth Leon Burnett and LaRetta Burnside Burnett on March 12, 1971. He attended Indian Hills Elementary, Hillside Junior High, Highland High School (Sophomore Class President), and the University of Utah, graduating with a B.S. degree in Accounting in August 1999. He served in the Utah National Guard from June 1989 to December 2002, when he was honorably discharged as a second lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Unit. His Guard service was interspersed with serving a two-year LDS Mission in Jacksonville, Florida.

Steve married Mary Morgan in the Salt Lake Temple on May 31, 2003, and they later divorced. They were blessed with three wonderful children: Molly (currently serving an LDS mission in Mongolia), Maggie, and Jack, each of whom he was greatly proud of, and loved so very much.

What "The Natural" was to baseball, Steve was to handyman skills, in part thanks to the influence of his father. Steve had an amazing gift not only for understanding how things work and how to fix them but also for creating attractive improvements. He used this gift throughout his adult life to enhance the homes of many friends and family. Professionally, the gift led to working as an energy analyst and consultant in construction, coaching contractors on how to build homes and buildings for Energy Star certification.

Steve loved being outdoors and was especially fond of the scents of balsam and cedar. His love of nature started with scouting in his younger years (an Eagle Scout at 14). His youth was spent in the Monument Park area of Salt Lake City. The family home backed onto the Bonneville Golf Course. At 8 years old, he loved to look for and collect errant golf balls. His first job, continuing a tradition started by his older siblings, was selling those golf balls-along with punch, lemonade, or soda pop-to golfers between the 6th and 7th holes.

He was fun-loving, adventurous, curious, and had a witty sense of humor. He loved being with his many friends. Those he met commented often that he was a gentleman and was kind in helping whenever and wherever needed. He loved the ocean. He enjoyed astronomy, traveling, surfing, skiing, and boating. Steve had so many adventures-living in Hawaii, skydiving, riding an elephant in Thailand, lowering himself on a rope to explore tunnels within the rock of Gibraltar, and hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro, to name a few. He learned and developed a love for baking while helping his sister Becky and brother-in-law Mike Busath establish the Stone Ground Bread Company in San Antonio, Texas, in the mid-1990s.

Steve is survived by his former wife, Mary; his children: Molly, Maggie, Jack; his parents; and his siblings: Rebecca (Michael) Busath, Deborah (Gary) Doxey, Kenneth (Cheryl) Burnett, and Michael (Tracie) Burnett.

Our celebration of his life will begin with a viewing on Sunday evening, November 23, at the Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary from 6:00-8:00 pm, located at 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City. A private funeral service will be on Monday, November 24 at 11:00 am. The service will be live-streamed at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88018582235. The service will also be recorded for those unable to attend. Condolences/memories may also be shared at larkinmortuary.com. Interment will be at the Salt Lake Cemetery at 200 N Street East, Salt Lake City.