Remembering The Utahns We’ve Lost: Gordon Davis

GOSHEN, Utah – Brenda Davis still doesn’t know how her husband contracted COVID-19.

“I don’t think his cows or his horse gave it to him,” she said.

At 69 years old, Gordon Davis was happy to social distance at his home in Goshen, Utah.

“That was his heaven,” Brenda joked. “He didn’t have to go anywhere or be around anybody. He loved that.”

Despite taking precautions, both he and Brenda were exposed.

The virus attacked Gordon’s lungs first. Following an initial diagnosis of pneumonia and five days at home with medication, he was admitted and intubated. Test results revealed he had COVID-19. For the next 33 days, including his 70^th birthday, Davis remained on a ventilator.

“He fought a long fight,” Brenda said. “He fought a hard fight.”

On Monday, May 25, the Davis family said their final goodbyes.

“We had to make the choice to let him go, which wasn’t easy for us, but we did it because we loved him,” said Brenda.

Gordon Davis passed away on Memorial Day, a day he revered for all of his life.

At 19, Davis enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served for eight months in Vietnam. After his time with the military was over, he worked as a civilian mechanic at the Tooele Army Depot for the next three decades.

“He was very patriotic,” said Brenda. “He always cared about our country.”

Gordon was closely involved with the American Legion and led the charge to have a veteran’s memorial built at the Goshen City cemetery.

“That meant a lot to him,” Brenda said. “It was very, very important to him.”

Daughter Maquel Bagley remembers her dad working hard during the week and making sure he spent time with his kids on the weekends. As his children grew older, he relished his new role as grandpa.

“He was able to retire kind of early in life and his grandkids became his life,” Bagley said.

Gordon Davis served for many years as a Bishop in his local congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“Through his kind nature and through his example, he touched many, many lives,” said Brenda.

Even though she tested positive for COVID-19, Brenda Davis never developed any symptoms of the disease. But having lost her husband, she has a unique perspective on the pandemic.

“It’s really hard to see people not take precautions,” she said. “If you could just experience one day in our lives, having him in that situation, you wouldn’t be so uncaring.”

Gordon Davis is just one of more than 200 Utahns who have lost their lives to COVID-19. KSL wants to help pay tribute to all of the virus’ victims. If you’ve lost a loved one to COVID-19 and would like us to tell their story, email us at COVID@KSL.com.