Byron Chester Mock

Byron Chester Mock passed away on July 6, 2026 surrounded by family at St George Regional Hospital in St George, UT. He said, “I just want to get through my 94th birthday and my 75th wedding anniversary and then I will be ready to go.” And that is exactly what he did. Byron was born on May 31, 1932 in Woodbury Township, PA to Kathryn Amick Mock and Chester Mock who lived in Clappertown, PA. Byron grew up on a farm near Hollidaysburg, PA until at 19 he married Helen Louise Bowmaster on June 24, 1951. The two had 9 children who eventually brought them 120 offspring to include 21 great-great grandchildren.

Byron worked at Penn State in Pennsylvania before finding a career in operating heavy equipment. His career eventually took Byron and then, in 1972, his family to St George, UT where he operated heavy equipment to set electricity pylons across and beyond southern Utah and then later to work in the gold mining industry. Helen says, “Byron could drive anything that had wheels and he was good at it.” After retiring from Kinross Gold Corporation, Byron began another career driving semi-trucks. He loved and took pride in his work and greater pride in being a good provider for his family. After his second retirement Byron enjoyed fishing, family gatherings and visits, long drives, ice cream runs with Helen, and playing 500 Rummy when he could often be heard saying, “Your mother is beating me again”.

Byron’s family does not remember HEARING “I love you” from him. Yet they do recognize that phone calls to ask, “Did you make it home yet?” (At the exact minute of expected arrival.), being teased about any number of things, his smile and “hi-ya” when someone walked in the door, him saying “happy birthday” and remembering the ages of his loved ones (even at 94 years of age) were all ways of Byron telling his family that he loved them. Byron fancied himself a jokester, often saying, “Watch this!” before ribbing Helen about something that did not seem funny to her but would leave Byron laughing with dancing eyes and a huge smile. That humor will be remembered.

Byron is survived by his wife, Helen Louise Mock, and his children: Byron Michael Mock (Margaret), Carl Edward Mock, Donald Leroy Mock (Janna), Jeffery Adam Mock, Christine Ellen Windish (John), Jennifer Marie Olson (Espra), Jerold Stephen Mock (Christine), and Stephen Jeffery Mock (Mindy). Byron and Helen also took in 17 year-old Brian Keith Olson and came to consider him as one of their children as well. Byron is preceded in death by his daughter, Barbara Mock, his parents, his sister, Delores Rigby, his son-in-law, Don Leonard, grandsons Jeremy and Nathan Mock, and his great grandaughter, Chelsea Sorensen.

A viewing will be held at Hughes Mortuary, 1037 E. 700 S. in St. George, UT on Saturday, July 11, 2026 from 9:00 to 9:45am. A graveside service will immediately follow at Washington Cemetery in Washington City, UT at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Byron’s honor to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.