Roger Cless Underwood
Roger Cless Underwood
1942 ~ 2022
On May 24, 2022 Roger Cless Underwood joined his loving mother and father, sister and other ancestors as he stepped from this mortal existence into his eternal calling. Throughout his mortal life Roger viewed life as a series of callings, each with its own challenges and rewards. Not one for seeking recognition for his accomplishments he was content in knowing that he had served his calling to the best of his ability
Roger was born December 19,1942 in Payson, Utah. He was the oldest of four children born to Ernal Cless Underwood and Elthora Moulton Underwood. Roger spent most of his younger years between Long Beach, California and Utah. It wasn’t until Roger was 10 months old that he was finally able to meet his dad.
Roger was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on May 29, 1953. He later went on to serve a full-time mission in Central America. He served two and a half years from Guatemala to Panama. Roger loved the time he spent on his mission and serving the Lord. While on his mission his parents were sealed to his three siblings still at home. On June 8th 1965, Roger finally got his chance to be sealed to his parents in the Los Angles, California Temple. In 2000, he was able to return to his mission area in Guatemala. He loved that he got to share the experience with his mom and dad and two sons.
While working in a small corner grocery store, he met his future wife. On May 10, 1968 they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple. A year later they welcomed the first of four children. Life as they knew it would never be the same.
In May of 1980, he moved his family up to Kirkland, Washington. What an experience that was. They happened to get caught in the eruption of Mt St Helens and had to spend the night in the Red Cross Shelter. It would be years later that that blue Buick was still spitting out ash from the air conditioning system. Roger and his Buicks.
Roger served in many callings for the Church, two of his most favorite were serving as a scout leader for many, many…. many years – the young boys who attended loved him and the fun they would have at each activity. Even the parents didn’t want to see him be released. The other was a worker in the Seattle Temple. He found much comfort and joy in his temple work and was loved by all he worked with. He worked as an ordinance worker and officiator for the English and Spanish sessions.
Shortly after all his kids were grown and out on their own Roger decided it was time to travel. He loved to travel. He and his wife took many cruises and saw many exotic places. Some would include, Hawaii, China, Italy, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Spain, Holland, France, Greece and Turkey, Mexico, and Panama. He also had the opportunity to visit Germany, Switzerland and Austria, while his son in law was stationed in Germany.
Roger is preceded in death by his parents Ernal Cless Underwood and Elthora Moulton Underwood, a sister Helen Loraine Underwood Knorr and a grandson Skyler Dell Howard; along with many ancestors before.
Roger is survived by his wife Kathleen, his children Karyl (Dale) Howard, Jennifer (Steve) Cardinalli, Bryan (Lauren) Underwood, Robert Underwood, his 11 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren also his siblings William (Wendy) Underwood & Jeanette (Martin) Munn.
A viewing will be held Wednesday, June 1, 2022 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at Warenski Funeral Home, 1776 North 900 East, American Fork, Utah. Funeral services will be held Thursday June 2, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Knoll Park LDS Church -160 S 460 W, Salem, Utah. A visitation will be from 10:00 to 10:45 am prior to services. Interment will be at the Salem City Cemetery.
A special heartfelt thanks to the nurses and staff at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Evergreen Hospice and CNS Hospice for their dedicated love and support during our difficult time and caring so deeply for our dad.