Jesus Mario Lopez

Mario, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend passed away at the age of 87 on May 12, 2025, in Murray, Utah with his family by his side. He was born July 31,1937 in a small coal mining town in Chandler, Colorado to Mary Gonzales and Jesus Flores López.

He grew up in Price, Utah where he attended Notre Dame Catholic School and graduated Carbon High School in 1956. In high school he excelled and lettered in multiple sports: wrestling, track, football, baseball, and basketball. He coached a baseball little league team and then he went on to play football for Carbon Junior College. He was the Junior Class Vice President and enjoyed playing in the school’s marching band and the Jimmy Dart dance band. He was employed as bus driver for the high school. He served in the Army Reserves at age 17 with Company B, 383rd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, and then pursued a music degree at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.

Mario and six of his high school friends enlisted in the military Battle Buddy Program (Buddy Plan) to enlist and train together potentially to be stationed together. He was stationed in Schwabach, Germany and assigned to two border patrol active-duty assignments with Troop A, 2nd Recon Squad,15th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Armored Division along the Czechoslovakian border from 1959-1960. Received an Honorable Discharge in 1961, he returned home where he met and married the love of his life, Shirley Ludeen Feichko on August 25, 1962, in the Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church in Price, Utah and returning to Carbon Junior College later that fall.

Mario served as a Charter Member of Blessed Sacrament Knight of Columbus Council 6966 Corpus Christi as a 3rd Degree Knight. As an artist, Mario painted numerous religious oil paintings that proudly hang in several Utah Catholic Churches from Ogden City, East Carbon, to St. George, Utah and the Philippines.

He was a jack of all trades in many arenas, working for several companies in Utah and surrounding states, starting as early as 13 years old with the Denver Rio Grande Railroad, Teamster Union Member as a Journeyman Diesel Mechanic for IML, Bear Automotive where he sold Diagnostic Equipment, Morton Thiokol, Quality Oil and Tire Company, Goodyear Tire Company, The McGee Company, Alta View Concrete, Sears Automotive, local gas stations and even dabbled a bit by starting up a business with a friend, L & O (López & Owens) Brake Alignment in Sugarhouse, Utah. He retired from Semi-Service in sales and service all with great success through his hard work ethic.

At times working 2-3 jobs at the same time to provide for his wife and nine children while missing his children’s school, church events and activities in order to provide for them. He instilled a strong Catholic faith and strong work ethic to his family and led by example. He didn’t care what his children set out to do in life, but he supported, encouraged, and reminded them that they were always welcome to come home and to honor their heritage and family name. He was devoted, protective and loved his family, his siblings and his Aunt Vera who he lovingly referred to as his “little sister”. Together, he and his wife raised nine successful and independent children who in turn, raised their own successful and loving families. One of his favorite sayings he would tell his kids was, “Pay Now and Play Later or Play Now and Pay Later”. These values & legacy helped to lead how his children lived their lives and raised their own families.

Mario had a zest for things that inspired his artistic talents. Everything he did and touched was not only a masterpiece but one of a kind. He played many musical instruments by ear and composed several pieces of music. He played in the Rocky Mountain Polka Express during the Oktoberfest in Snowbird, Utah in the mid 80s to early 90s. He enjoyed wood carving, fly fishing (tying flies), and oil painting. He created and handmade wonderful Native American wooden flutes in any key along with fetishes on the flute. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed spending time with his close family and friends out on the green. One proud moment of several: Double Eagle at River Oaks G.C. Par 5, 416 Yards, Hole #13, 2nd Shot, 160 yards, 7 Iron, June 23, 2009.

Mario is survived by his beloved wife, Shirley Ludeen Feichko López of almost 63 years and his nine children; Stephan T. Valenzuela (Silver), Nick A. López (Rosa Ponce Cornejo), Vincent M. López (Joyce Trent), Carmen T. Voegeli, Carlos J.F. López (Christy Carlson), Tina M. Rivera, (Angel), Alexis A. Witt, Rocky J. López (Jackie Jakeman), and Roman López (Penina Fitiao); his 21 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren; his siblings: Maggie McFadden, Toni Jarvi, Mary Zilliox and Lydia Burrola; Aunt Vera Garcia Gonzales, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and his lifelong loyal friend, best man, Teddy Marakis, whom he considered to be family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesus Flores and Mary Gonzales López; his maternal grandparents, Pedro Garcia Gonzales and Guadalupe De La Cruz Gonzales, and paternal grandparents, Francisco López and Rosario López, siblings: Maria Del Rosario López, Maria Elvira López, Victor Manuel López, Alexander Pete López, Joe Plato López, Carol Belen Stevenson, Steve López, Diego Francisco (Frank) López and son-in-law, Dean Patrick Witt.

A viewing will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025, from 11:00am - 11:50am at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church 9757 S. 1700 E., Sandy, Utah 84092. Funeral Service led by the family will be held from 12:00pm - 12:50pm and Catholic Rosary at 1:00pm - 2:00pm with a light reception thereafter.

A separate Funeral Mass and Memorial Service in Mario’s hometown beginning with a viewing on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 9:00am - 9:50am at Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church. 210 N. Carbon Ave. Price, Utah 84501. Funeral Service led by the family will be held from 10:00am - 10:50am with the Catholic Funeral Mass from 11:00am - 12:00pm. The Interment will take place at Cliffview Cemetery 1850 E. 800 North Price, Utah 84501 immediately following the mass. Lunch reception to follow at Notre Dame Hope Center, 185 N Carbon Ave, Price, Utah 84501. (Kiddie Corner from Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church).

Funeral arrangements are made under the direction of Goff Mortuary (8090 State St. Midvale Utah) www.goffmortuary.com (801) 255-7151and Mitchell Funeral Home Inc. (233 E. Main St. Price, Utah 84501) www.mitchellfuneralhome.net (435) 637-2668. Family and friends are invited to share memories on Mario’s obituary memorial at either or both mortuary websites noted above.