Gordon Kearl Ashley II's Obituary
Gordon Kearl Ashley II passed away on July 27, 2023, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born on
April 3, 1942, in Montpelier, Idaho, to the late Rae Dell Evans and Gordon Ashley. Most of
Gordon’s family knew Gordon as “Kay”. Gordon is survived by his sister, Allyson Ashley and
sister-in-law Sherri Viland, as well as his cousins, Brent Rich and Cheri Cates. He was
preceded in death by his mother, Rae Dell Evans, his father, Gordon Ashley, and his stepfather,
John Whittaker. Gordon is also survived by a half-brother, Blair Ashley, and a half-sister, Nary
Jane Ashley.
Gordon had a passion for education and earned a Doctorate degree in nuclear physics at
the University of Utah. He served in the Navy until his honorable discharge due to eyesight
limitations. After his military service, Gordon dedicated the majority of his career to working
for Bechtel Engineering & Construction in San Francisco, California as a nuclear physicist
during which time the department which he headed at Bechtel built the majority of the
nuclear power plants across the country. Following his retirement from Bechtel, Gordon
organized a company, Senentec Corporation with one of his former employees at Bechtel, Wyn
Schuh, which company consulted for many of the nuclear power plants across the world.
Gordon also pursed a part-time teaching career teaching physics at the University of
California, Berkely and Diablo Valley College in Concord, California until he was diagnosed
with terminal cancer, at which time he moved from his home in Walnut Creek, California
back to Salt Lake City, and with the assistance of his mother, Rae Dell, was admitted to
the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, where after several years of
heavy treatment Gordon was declared cancer free.
However, due to his chemotherapy and radiation treatment, along with having diabetes
most of his life, his health gradually declined over the subsequent years, until his lost his
eye sight, and suffered from other effects from his diabetes disease, which finally took his
life.
Outside of his professional life, Gordon had a deep appreciation for both astronomy and
physics and often looked at the world through the lens of a physicist. He would frequently
express his love for the subject, saying, "I love my physics." In his leisure time, he enjoyed
sailing with his friend Dean, engaging in intellectual conversations with friends and family on
various topics, particularly history and physics. Gordon also had a passion for trains and had
an extensive collection of model trains.
Gordon was as an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where
he served as a missionary for the church in Germany, and later served as gospel doctrine
teacher, and as a high priest group leader. Gordon was also an avid reader of LDS church
books and scriptures and had an extensive knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Gordon will be remembered for his dedication to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for this
contribution to the field of physics, his dedication to and love for his country, and his concern
for, and efforts to help others. He asked that we thank those of his doctors, nurses, and aids,
family and friends who assisted him, especially during the last few months of his life.
He will be missed by many
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