Russell Evan Findlay

Russell Evan Findlay, of Cedar Hills, Utah, passed away December 26, 2024, due to a sudden and unforeseen heart attack during the last month of his Spanish-speaking mission in San Vito, Costa Rica. 

Russ was born October 28, 1960, in Riverside, California, to Jack and Helen Findlay, now both recently deceased. His wife, Kim Winters Findlay, passed away in 2019. Russ is survived by his second wife, Lynell Findlay. He has one younger sister, Janette Findlay, who passed away in March 2024. He is survived by two older brothers, Craig (Sally) and David Findlay, two younger brothers, Brian (Jennifer) and Kent (Anna K) Findlay, one younger sister, Gaylynn Hansen. His four daughters, Carissa (Benjamin) Decker, Megan Findlay, Paige (Sean) Thorne, Emma (Andrew) Luymes, and six grandchildren: Jameson Decker, Kate Decker, William Decker, Eevie Thorne, Curtiss Thorne, and Renee Luymes. He has four step-children: Trista (Jeff) Knighton, Karissa (Brian) Stisser, Brady (Jordan) Nash, and Tanner (Ali) Nash; 9 step-grandchildren: Karston Knighton, Kailyn Knighton, Ryker Knighton, Lyla Knighton, Logan Knighton, Nelson Stisser, Nicholas Stisser, Avery Nash, Presley Nash, and two step-grandchildren on the way.

Russell grew up in Simi Valley, CA, until he was 13. He learned to work hard from a young age and was very creative in finding artistic ways to paint address numbers on street curbs, doing paper routes, and saving nearly every penny he made except for the purchases of a 1965 and 1968 Ford Mustang. His family moved to Hacienda Heights, CA in 1974. He graduated from Los Altos High School in 3 years in 1978. In 1979, his family moved to a different home, still in Hacienda Heights.CA

He served a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in London, England, from 1979-1981. He devoted his life to God and willingly served in many time consuming callings including a counselor in the bishopric, temple worker, young men's president, seminary teacher and passed from this life while serving the Lord as a full-time spanish speaking missionary. 

He graduated from Brigham Young University in December of 1984 with a Bachelor's degree in accounting. While attending BYU, he met Kim Denise Winters. Their first date was spent at Strawberry Reservoir on a cold early morning in May 1983, where they each caught their limit in just 4 hours using night crawlers and marshmallows. They quickly fell in love and were married on December 27, 1983, for time and for all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Russ cared greatly and completely for his family and was an excellent provider. He quickly obtained his license as a certified public accountant (CPA) and built and maintained a very successful practice until he retired in 2016. He taught his children to trust in the Lord, how to work hard and how to overcome challenges and trials. He taught his girls how to read and how to excel scholastically. He also taught them to be competitive in sports from a young age and was a volunteer soccer coach for all of his girls over the years.

His favorite pastimes included hiking, fishing, gardening, planting fruit trees everywhere he lived, fixing up homes to sell or rent, reading, and many sports, including racquetball, pickleball, paddle boarding, surfing, running, biking, and ping-pong. He enjoyed annual family camping trips to Mexico or Lake Powell and tropical destinations like Hawaii. He was always up for a game of rook, other card games, or board games with anyone who would play with him. Most of all, he enjoyed being together with his family and friends.

Russ Findlay was an early riser, always up with the sun. He would often be found inspecting the berry bushes or fruit trees and tomato plants to get first dibs. He loved eating healthy foods and exercising and lived by the motto, “If you think you can or you think you can't, you’re right.” He loved to make his family happy with dad jokes, funny sayings, and surprise boxes of candy. He was well-liked by many, accomplished, driven, and gregarious. He always volunteered his time, talents, and service with a smile to his family, friends, church, and community.

A couple of years after losing Kim, Russ reached out to Lynell when she became a suggested friend on Facebook. They met and took a road trip together to see if they were compatible. Russ then proposed to Lynell at Snoqualmie Falls, WA, after dating for a month and a half, and they had a quiet wedding ceremony in their home on their two-month anniversary date. Russ & Lynell were then sealed in the Draper, Utah temple on November 11, 2021. Highlights of their time together include traveling to India to attend his granddaughter Kate’s baptism and then serving a full-time mission in Costa Rica for 11 months. Russ and Lynell’s love grew to a new level as they served the Lord and the people of Costa Rica. This fulfilled a lifelong dream for both of them to serve a mission as a senior couple. Although their time together was short, it was an amazing adventure where two people fell in love quickly and experienced many miracles together.

Upon meeting Russ, Lynell's family noticed how kind and generous he was with those around him. Lynell's children appreciated the way he treated their mother, with an empathetic and gentle approach. They were grateful for Russ's spiritual strength and his patience & willingness to unite closer with all family relations. Brady and Jordan enjoyed the youthful company of Russ and Lynell at many holiday dinners and activities. Russ immediately embraced Lynell's children and accepted Lynell's family with an open heart.

Russ will be missed by many. Funeral services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 3950 W Cedar Hills Dr, Cedar Hills, UT 84062. There will be a viewing on Friday, January 24, from 6 to 8 pm. On Saturday, January 25, there will be an additional viewing at 9:30-10:30 am and a funeral service at 11 am. Burial service will be held at the Eternal Hills Cemetery at 1999 El Camino Real, Oceanside, CA 92054, on Tuesday, January 28 at 10:00 am.

Our heartfelt thanks to all who are grieving with us. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/humanitarian-services/ or https://www.amigosofcostarica.org/affiliates/obras-del-espiritu-santo to support the people in San Vito, Costa Rica. 

To watch the services:

https://zoom.us/j/93183747733?pwd=LSlzXBQnk2Hil2mfNRRda5b7qgFITW.1