Eugene Bramhall Obituary

Gene Bramhall slipped away from us peacefully in Provo, Utah on the morning of July 29, 2025, after a short struggle with ailments associated, simply, with old age.

Gene was born April 30, 1932, to Eugene H. Bramhall, Sr., and Margaret Simms., in Salt Lake City, Utah. He worked summers in Bryce Canyon, and after graduating high school moved with his mother and father to Berkeley, California. There, Gene earned a bachelor's degree at the University of California at Berkeley and secured a commission in the Army through the ROTC. After receiving orders to report to Aberdeen, Maryland in September, 1954, Gene married Dorothy Ann Harker of El Cerrito, California, and immediately left for training in Maryland, and eventual service in France.

After returning from France and spending an unfulfilling year crunching numbers for Shell Oil Company, Gene earned his law degree from the University of California at Berkeley (Boalt Hall) in 1960. Gene was passionate about the legal profession, pursued excellence in his practice, and was truly a "lawyer's lawyer." For Gene, the practice of law was as much a calling as a career. Gene began his practice at Best, Best & Krieger in Riverside, California. He left Riverside after a few years for the sake of his children's health, moving his family to the small northern California town of Oroville, where he built friendships that lasted throughout his life. The next adventure took him and his family to Guam, Oakland, California, and then back to Guam, where his practice spanned the Pacific. In 1976, he turned his back on a successful law practice and lucrative opportunities in order to accept a position with BYU, working with his high school buddy Hal Visick. Gene eventually become General Counsel, serving in this position for many years. His years at BYU shaped and enriched his life in ways that can't be measured.

Gene lived an extraordinary life. His military service and legal career spanned half the globe, and he covered the other half accompanying the BYU Young Ambassadors with his beloved wife, Dorothy, who predeceased him by 15 years, and otherwise traveling with Dorothy, friends and his second wife, Janet Duncan. Gene had a passion for running, mostly on trails and beyond "no trespassing" signs, with scrapes and bruises marking the success of each outing. He loved skiing, jazz music, driving his purple Porsche, petting strange dogs, singing crazy songs and striking up conversations with total strangers. His gift for storytelling and his incredible memory for detail were legendary.

Gene loved people. Especially young people. He taught, counselled, loved and befriended countless youth through years of teaching at BYU, teaching early morning seminary, serving in student bishoprics and stake presidencies, and hosting at the BYU Jerusalem Center. His compassion and generosity of soul will be his legacy with all who knew him. His home was a veritable Motel 6, with the light left on for many students, grandchildren and friends for stays both long and short.

Gene is survived by his wife Janet, of Rupert, Idaho; his five children, Christopher E. Bramhall (Christine) of Farmington, Utah, Jeanette Anderson (Kirk) of Boulder, Colorado, Scott H. Bramhall (Chieko) of Pleasant Grove, Utah, Karen Young (Chris), of Orem, Utah, and Kathleen Pigott (David), of Rexburg, Idaho, his 22 grandchildren, and his 25 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Friday, August 8, 2025, beginning at 11:00, with a viewing from 9:30 to 10:45 at the Summit Ward Building, 4220 Foothill Dr, Provo, Utah.

Interment will be held thereafter at the East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, you may wish to make a contribution to an animal shelter, or to the Duncan family charity, Zimbabwe Blooms, c/o Paul Duncan, 612 N 1084 E, Jackson, Idaho 83350, which builds schools for children in Zimbabwe.