William Elden "Bill" Hadfield

William Elden Hadfield, 81, passed away peacefully at his home in Salt Lake City on March 7, 2026, following complications from a stroke he suffered in January. Born on May 17, 1944, in Logan, Utah, to Elden and Sarah Hadfield, Bill spent his childhood in New Jersey, Texas, and Utah before moving with his family to Australia in 1952. Those formative years in Australia shaped his deep appreciation for hard work, family, and the belief that all people are children of God. He developed a lasting love for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during his family’s decade there.

After returning from Australia, Bill attended Brigham Young University. Following his freshman year, he served a mission in the Northern Far East, laboring on every island in Japan except Okinawa. His missionary service strengthened his faith and love for the gospel and the Book of Mormon, lessons that guided him throughout his life. Upon graduating from BYU with a degree in Asian Studies, he married the love of his life, Gayle Ann Read, on October 18, 1968, in the Mesa Arizona Temple. The couple spent the next three years together during Bill’s honorable service in the United States Army in California, Maryland, and Texas. They welcomed their first two children, Aaron and Kathryn (Katie), during this time.

After leaving the Army, Bill and Gayle settled in Arizona, where he became a certified gemologist working for Fredric Fischer Jewelers. Their daughter Amanda was born in Phoenix. Seeking a cooler climate, Bill accepted his father’s offer to join the family drapery and floor covering business in Salt Lake City. While working, he earned a second bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from BYU. In Salt Lake, he and Gayle raised their growing family, welcoming Tyler, Jessica, and Jennifer. In 1984, they founded The Lamp Company, the business Bill operated and loved for the next 40 years. He took great satisfaction in solving problems for clients, building lasting relationships, and providing quality work with integrity.

Bill’s greatest joy was his family. He and Gayle welcomed their youngest child, Alexander, in 2004. He leaves behind his beloved wife Gayle and their seven children: Aaron (Jody), Katie Graham (John), Amanda Shirley (John), Tyler (Katie), Jessica Hintze (Matt), Jenny Stout (Josh), and Alex. He is also survived by 23 grandchildren, seven of whom are great-grandchildren, and his sisters Susan Johnson (Gary), Cindy Berry, and Nancy Stratford (Bruce). Bill served faithfully in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in many capacities, including as a bishop and devoted veil worker in the Salt Lake Temple for 17 years. He also gave many years to the University of Utah’s rugby program, where he formed deep bonds with the athletes from 2001 to 2013.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elden and Sarah Hadfield, his brother-in-law Joe Berry, nephew Allen Berry, and great-granddaughter Esther Walter. Bill’s life of service, integrity, and devotion to Jesus Christ leaves a lasting influence on all who knew him, especially his family, who will carry forward his example for generations.