David Reese Voda

1941 - 2023

David Reese Voda

1941-2023

Hurricane, UT-David Reese Voda succumbed to Pancreatic Cancer Saturday, June 3, 2023. David was born February 15, 1941, to Dean Reese Merrill and Josephine Ann Smith in Washington D.C. He and his mother later returned to Salt Lake City where he was raised and adopted by Edward J. Voda in 1952. He graduated from Olympus High School and then received his BS in Accounting from the University of Utah.

David met Shirlie Ann Huber while at the university. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 26, 1964. They raised their six children in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Salt Lake City, Utah and Evanston, Wyoming before moving to Hurricane, Utah in 2002.

David loved Hanna, Utah – mowing lawns, burning branches, and the sound of sprinklers. Some of his favorite foods were his mother's pumpkin pie and apple crisp, peanut butter-butter and honey sandwiches, icy bread and milk, and home canned applesauce, jelly, peaches, and pears. David thoroughly enjoyed scouting where he earned the Silver Beaver Award in 1990, Wood Badge in which he was course leader in 1990, and Order of the Arrow. He laughed often at Tim Conway, Don Knotts, MASH and Big Bang Theory. He was a devoted home teacher. Once he got to know you, he was a trusted friend from then on. His favorite hobby was making friends by sincerely talking and listening.

He and Shirlie served three missions: Honolulu, Hawaii, Johannesburg, So Africa and the handcart sites in Wyoming. They also served several years in the Ogden Temple and St. George Temple where they treasured all who came. He served as bishop, on the high council, teacher and in the priesthood quorums.

David was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Eddie Voda. He is survived by his wife, Shirlie; children: Stacey (Gary) Welling of Evanston, WY, Leslie (Rick) Lunsford of Evanston, WY, Steven Voda of Parker, ID, Shawna (Ron) Cluff of Salt Lake City, UT, Linda (Jeremy) Oxborrow of Smithfield, UT and Kristen (Pablo) Granado of Cedar City, UT; 18 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and siblings: Dean Merrill, Diane Melis and Linda Pemberton on the east coast.

Special thanks to Lindy and Genevieve of Pathway Health Care for their tender care.

Funeral services will be held Friday, June 9, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. in the Hurricane 11th Ward Chapel, 452 North 2600 West, Hurricane, Utah. Visitations will be held at the church on Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Friday, prior to services, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, June 10, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. in Holladay Memorial Park, 4900 South Memory Lane, Salt Lake City, Utah.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints Humanitarian Fund.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221. Please visit our website at www.metcalfmortuary.com for condolences, complete obituary and funeral listings.