Greg Haws

Greg W. Haws

August 20, 1952 ~ September 14, 2017

Greg W. Haws, 65, passed away Thursday, September 14, 2017, after complications following emergency surgery to repair an ulcerated stomach. We are comforted that he died peacefully, surrounded by his wife and all of his children—and we still feel that peace. He was a loving, devoted husband and father—and he considered himself a “professional grandpa” to 34 beloved grandchildren!

He was born August 20, 1952, the second son of John Barrett and Marie Widdison Haws. He was a lifelong resident of Hooper.

On November 1, 1973, Greg married Debra Fowler in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. She is the love of his life and his eternal companion. They are the parents of eight children.

He attended Hooper School and graduated from Roy High School in 1970. He graduated Cum Laude from Weber State College in 1976 with a degree in Accounting. He earned a master’s degree in Taxation from Weber State University in 2011 and was a Goddard Scholar.

Greg was a Certified Public Accountant and took great pride in his profession. He was active in various business activities throughout his life. He also taught accounting as an adjunct professor at Weber State University and Brigham Young University, positions he thoroughly loved. Teaching was one of the joys of his life.

He was active in civic affairs. He served on several boards, both public and private, including Mission 2000, Utah Association of CPAs, United Way, Utah Transit Authority, Weber School District Foundation, and The Permanent Community Impact Board.

In 1990, Greg was elected Auditor-Clerk-Treasurer of Weber County. He served with distinction and was active in many county and statewide projects and issues. Greg was a member of the Republican Party and had been active in several political campaigns. In 2000, Governor Leavitt appointed him to the Utah State Board of Education. He won re-election to that post in 2002 and 2006, serving a total of 11 years. He also represented the Board of Education as a member of the Utah State Board of Regents for three years.

He was active in national education activities. He served as a board member and as Secretary-Treasurer of the National Association of State Boards of Education. He also served on several committees and task forces seeking to improve the educational opportunities for students both in Utah and nationally.

Greg is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission to Alabama-Florida from 1971-1973—a highlight of his life. He also served as a teacher, young men’s president, elders quorum president, stake seventy, high councilor, bishop, young adult branch president, and as a counselor in the presidency of the Weber State University Stake. He also held a position in the Utah North Area as an assistant area auditor.

He and Debi were called to serve as missionaries in the West Africa Area in September of 2012. They served there from September 2012 to June 2013. Due to illness, they were reassigned to the Missouri Independence Mission, where they served from September 2013 to August 2014.

Greg is survived by his wife, Debi; their children, JB (Laura), Provo; Sunee (Kyle) Eardley, St. George; Katie (Dan) Dannehl, Las Vegas, NV; Rindi (Greg) Jacobsen, St. George; Stalee (Clint) Weston, Hooper; Joni (Jaron) Allred, South Weber; Judi (Michael) Coburn, Hooper; Millie (Robert) Lewis, Silver Spring, MD; and 34 loving grandchildren, whom he treasured; his three brothers, Kenneth (Darlene), Hooper; Wayne (Jan), Hooper; Alan (Leslie), Snohomish, WA; and a wonderful extended family and many true friends. His ancestors, including his father and mother, preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m on Saturday, September 23, 2017, at the Muskrat Springs Ward LDS meetinghouse, 5000 S. 5900 W. in Hooper. A viewing will be held Friday, September 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Roy Mortuary, 3333 West 5600 South; and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the LDS meetinghouse.

Interment, Hooper Cemetery.

Our family wishes to sincerely thank all of the amazing doctors, nurses, and staff at McKay-Dee Hospital who gave a truly herculean effort and did everything possible to save our beloved husband and dad!