Rodney Byron Symes
Aug 11, 1965 – Jun 4, 2021
Our beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend passed quietly
at home on June 4, 2021. Rodney was born in Livonia, Michigan on
August 11, 1965, to William and Geraldine Symes. He was the youngest of
three children. Rodney grew up in Michigan and later moved to Salt Lake
City, Utah. He began his career in the restaurant industry and later
started his own welding company, known as Symes Fabrication. Then,
Rodney worked at Consumer Ride and Drive for General Motors. Later his
life changed, and he went into the Addiction Recovery Field, and
received his license in Advanced Substance Use Disorder Counselor
(ASUDC) at the University of Utah. He worked at several recovery centers
as a counselor. His last position was Director of Operations at First Step
“There is only one happiness in life, to love and to be loved Author-George Sand”
House. He loved working and helping recovering patients gain strength
and confidence in their future. He always put others before himself. He
was such a funny guy and always made you laugh. Rodney was passionate
about cooking gourmet meals and fixing wonderful, barbequed dinners
and picnics on the grill. He was an automobile enthusiast, enjoying all
different styles and types of old and new cars. Rodney’s main interests
were camping, fishing and boating. He loved the great outdoors. His
greatest joy and contentment were spending free time with family,
friends and his pet Boxer, Bruno. Rodney will be remembered as strong,
supportive, and a “true man of his word. He loved his daughters and son,
grandchildren and family fiercely. He will be missed by so many and
shall be remembered in our hearts always and forever. Rodney is survived
by his two daughters, Ashley Symes, Olivia Symes and son Christopher
Lepkowski, brother David (Kathleen) Symes, sister Launnee Symes,
nephew Austen Symes and grandchildren; Estella, Temper, Azure, and
Dublin. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Geraldine
Symes. There will be a “Celebration of Life” Open House held for family
and friends at Brookstone Social Center, 1630 East 6480 South, Salt Lake
City, Utah between the hours of 1:00pm to 4:00pm on Sunday, June 13,
2021. This is a sober celebration out of respect for the family.