Surrounded by his loving eternal family, our dear husband, father, brother, son, and beloved uncle and friend, Christopher Alan Grow, peacefully passed into the arms of our loving Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, February 20, 2023, from complications associated with his courageous battle with the brain cancer known as Glioblastoma. He truly is our hero, and we are so proud of him for how he valiantly fought this battle and endured to the end. Our hearts are broken; our loss brings great pain, but his spirit lives on and we trust in the healing promise and reality of eternal families and look forward with faith for that wonderful day when we will be reunited with him.
Chris was born to Ray and Becky Grow on June 26, 1971, in Salt Lake City, UT. As Chris would say, he is the second youngest of two children. He was the best big brother to his sister Candy whom he loved to tease and play tricks on. Chris was raised in a home filled with love and laughter, where he was taught and developed a love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Chris was full of life and loved adventure and the outdoors. He spent his youth in St. Anthony Idaho, where he loved to ride his bike, fish the Henry’s Fork River, go on canoe trips into Shoshone Lake with his dad, and visit Yellowstone/Grand Teton National Parks as often as possible.
After high school, his family moved to Logan, UT. Shortly after, Chris left to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the England, London South Mission, where he gained a deep love and respect for the people he served. After his mission, he returned to Logan to attend Utah State University. Chris loved learning so much, he gained extensive knowledge and many varying skills, always working on ways to grow and improve. He was a licensed massage therapist, which helped him pay for school and in 2003, he graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Exercise and Sports Science, later he got a Rad Tech degree from SLCC but then decided working in a hospital basement was not for him. He finally settled on Medical Laboratory Science where he worked at ARUP Laboratories for 19 years, the last 10 years specifically, he worked in the Cellular Immunology lab. He loved the people he worked with and developed many loving friendships over those years. Those friends from work continued to love and support him during his courageous battle and their visits and support helped strengthen him during his hardest days.
Chris married the love of his life, Katrina Maughan on September 21, 2002, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they began a new adventure full of hope and love for one another. Eventually, they established a home in Taylorsville, UT where their family grew to include four amazing, beautiful children and two adorable cats. According to Chris a house was not a home without kids and cats. Katrina was lovingly by his side every day from the beginning of the diagnosis on, even sleeping at the hospital. This meant that the family had to rely on outside help to care for their children during this time. They were blessed to always have someone jump in as needed and the children were well cared for. His love and concern for his children pushed him through the hard days. He missed them so much when he was at the hospital and spoke of them often.
Chris was known for his sense of humor and his passion for fitness and fun. He lived for his children, He loved playing basketball and coaching his kids’ teams. He loved teaching and supporting his children in all their interests and pursuits. He loved reading and would read whatever book his kids were reading so he could talk to them about it and connect with them. He loved taking road trips, fishing, camping, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, gardening, cooking, grilling, basketball, frisbee golf, anything active; you name it, he was ready to go! He loved people and genuinely listened to them and wanted to help and serve anyway he could.
Chris was a faithful, devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many callings including Sunday School President, Young Men’s President, Primary Teacher and as first counselor in the Elder’s Quorum Presidency.
Chris’s mortal journey was not easy, but it was filled with love, faith, and trust in his Savior even until his last breath. He touched the lives of so many as he never waivered in his faith even during the most painful and dark times as the cancer took over his body. His light and spirit shined through and could be felt by those around him. His legacy lives on through his wife and children who adore him. Chris was loved by many and was not alone in his fight against cancer. He and our family were loved and supported by so many wonderful people in our lives, in which we are eternally grateful. We cherish the time we had with him and are thankful we could hold his hand and comfort him as he passed from this life into the next. Together we assured him that he would never be forgotten and that his life and legacy would be forever etched into our hearts.
Chris is survived by his father, Ray Grow. His loving wife, Katrina Grow. His sister, Candy (Ryan) Swallom; and his four children: Kaitlyn, Trevor, Makenna, and Miley. He is preceded in death by his dear mother, Becky Grow.
Memorial services for Chris will include a viewing on Thursday, March 2, 2023, from 6:00-8:00 pm, at the Taylorsville 16th Ward located at 3495 W. 4850 S. Taylorsville, UT. A second viewing will be held Friday, March 3, 2023, from 9:30-10:45 am, followed by funeral services at 11:00 am, also located at 3495 W. 4850 S. Taylorsville, UT. Burial will be at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery located at 1950 East Dimple Dell Road, Sandy, UT. For those unable to attend, services will be streamed via Zoom. Please visit Chris' obituary page at www.larkincares.com for more information.
The Grow family wishes to express deep gratitude to the Huntsman Cancer team that worked so hard to give Chris the best chance at life. They are also so incredibly grateful to the doctors, therapists, and staff at the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital who lovingly helped to support Chris on his journey and made it possible for him to spend his last days at home surrounded by his loving family.
Until we meet again, dear Chris-we love you and will always be grateful for your love and influence and for touching our lives in such a powerful way.