St. George, Utah - Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend William "Bill" Hartley Fox, 85, passed away on January 9, 2021, due to complications related to COVID-19. Bill was born November 1, 1935, to Harold Maxfield and Edith Chipman Fox in Lehi, Utah. He attended schools in Lehi and was a proud graduate of Lehi High School, where he excelled in tennis and basketball. Bill was particularly academically inclined and skipped the 3 ^rd grade based on his scholastic ability. At the age of 17, he met his sweetheart and the love of his life, Tricia Pate, at the American Fork Sweet Shop, where they began their 68-year romance together.

He graduated high school at the age of 17 and enrolled in the Chemical Engineering Program at Brigham Young University, where he graduated with honors. Bill also joined the Utah National Guard after high school and served for 8 years. It was during this time that Bill and Tricia married, on August 29, 1957, and were sealed for eternity in the Salt Lake Temple.

Following his time at BYU, Bill took his first job at Hercules Powder Company in Kenvil, New Jersey, where he ran the test firing of the Minuteman Missile for five years. To get back West again, he took a job with Shell Oil in Los Angeles, California and then switched employers to work for C.F. Braun in L.A. He loved living in Huntington Beach and during his time there, he learned to scuba dive and he explored the waters along the California coast and made many friends while doing it. His final job took his family to Salt Lake City, where he worked for Central Valley Water Treatment for 25 years as a Chemical Engineer. After retiring from Central Valley, Bill and Tricia made their final move to St. George, Utah, where they settled and found lifelong friends.

Bill loved music and he played many instruments. He grew up playing the piano and played the trumpet and French horn in the high school marching band. As an adult, he taught himself how to play the guitar and was introduced to the banjo. When he discovered the banjo, he found what would be his next passion in life. His love of the instrument led him to build his own banjo (from scratch), which he played daily for the next 40 years.

Bill loved the outdoors and explored every hiking trail in the state of Utah. He frequented the national parks every chance he got. He was a life-long learner, and spent his downtime solving complex mathematical equations and reading his children's and grandchildren's math and science textbooks. He enjoyed brain games, specifically chess and was a master chess strategist and player and taught his son the love of the game. Bill had a witty sense of humor and particularly loved writing "odes" about life's quirks.

Bill's most cherished things in life were his family and his faith. He spent many weekends at his children's sporting, music, and dancing endeavors. Nothing brought him more joy than watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow. He was faithful in his many church callings and particularly loved playing the piano when his talents were called upon. Bill loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ and spent his life studying the Savior's teachings. Bill is survived by his wife, Tricia Fox; children: Michelle (Stephen) Browning, Gregg (Stephanie) Fox, Char (Tim) Jeffris, Sandy (Aaron) Liddell; 13 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren.

A private family service will be held on Friday, January 15, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 300 W. Saint George Blvd., St. George, UT. A viewing for family and friends will immediately follow from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

A graveside dedication will take place on Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 2 pm at American Fork Cemetery, 26 W. 600 N. Street, American Fork, UT.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the LDS Church Missionary Fund, or the National Park Conservation Association.

Because of COVID-19, face masks and social distancing will be required at all gatherings.