Lyle Kofford

In Loving Memory of Lyle C. Kofford
August 7, 1937 – November 9, 2024

Lyle C. Kofford, age 87, passed peacefully November 9, 2024 in South Jordan, UT at his daughter’s home.

Born a preemie baby in Gridley, CA to the talented Gladys Mae and the burly Seymoure Coy, Lyle grew up on a small three-acre farm in his rural town surrounded by fruit and nut trees with a canal flowing behind his childhood home.

Following his active high school years, which included Spanish Club, student council, academics (he loved history), theater, tennis, and listening to classical music, Lyle started his college years at BYU in Provo, Utah. He attended from 1955-1957, enrolling as a cadet in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corp. He had a break from college to serve an LDS mission in Mexico from January 1958 to July 1960. He gained a life-long love for Hispanic culture, art, music, language, and food from his time in Mexico.
After his mission, he returned to college at Chico State earning a B.A. in Social Welfare in 1965. In the midst of earning this degree, he served as a medic in the Air Force Reserve (1961-1966) out of Mather AFB in Sacramento, CA. He had the opportunity to visit Japan for two summers and work on flight teams which flew patients over the North Pole from Vietnam to America for hospital care.

For eight years he worked as a pharmaceutical rep in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco before returning to Butte College in Chico, CA to earn a B.A. in Respiratory Therapy. During his twenty-two-year career in Redding, CA, Lyle worked in two hospitals and a sleep lab. He also interspersed that work with respiratory home healthcare and hospital social work. One thrilling aspect of working at one hospital was acting as a Spanish translator. In 1987, he was awarded Employee of the Month accompanied by compliments from co-workers such as:
• Well liked by all
• Kind and considerate to patients and staff
• Willing and eager to help

Lyle felt his main accomplishment was marrying UP. He and Kathleen Cora O’Neill married in the Los Angeles Temple on October 9, 1962. They enjoyed thirty-nine happy years together before Kathy’s passing in 2001 at the age of 61. Three daughters, Kristin, Melissa, and Kari completed their family.

He moved to South Jordan, UT from Redding, CA a few years after Kathy’s passing to live close to his daughters. He considered them a blessing and they cherished their sweet, attentive, and caring daddy.

Lyle loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ, his family, and his friends. He is survived by his daughters Kristin (Tom), Melissa (Chris), Kari (Eric), sister Thelma Minton, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Lyle’s girls thank all who love him and added value, joy, and support to his life.

Celebration of a Life Service will be held at 11am on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home located at 1007 West South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, UT 84095. Our dad loved bright colors, so be sure to wear something bright instead of the traditional black.

In Lieu of Flowers: Please donate to a favorite veteran’s charity in his name.