Noah Simon Russell, 35, passed away peacefully Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in his wife’s arms at their home in Cedar City, Utah. His family and close friends were with him when he passed. Noah fought a valiant battle with melanoma for over a year during which time he continued to work, helped his friends when they were in need and lived life to the fullest.
Noah was born January 31, 1990, in Modesto, CA to Terry Russell and Janet (Hogwood) Russell. He grew up in Oakdale, CA and graduated from Oakdale High School in 2008. Noah was a UTI graduate and completed numerous certifications for Ford Senior Mastery. He worked at Haidlen Ford in Oakdale, CA for many years where he met his future wife, Rachel Ann Leal, while both were employed there. Noah and Rachel were married November 8, 2014, in Manteca, CA. After Noah and Rachel relocated to Cedar City, UT in February 2022, Noah was employed at Cedar City Motor Company. Noah took immense pride in being a certified Ford Sr. Master Technician and in sharing his knowledge with co-workers and mentoring his apprentices. Noah loved working on his classic 1952 Ford F-1 that he inherited from his grandfather. He enjoyed taking it to car shows with his Uncle Al and Aunt Barb Bumgarner. Noah enjoyed range days and taking his family and friends shooting in the wilderness outside his Utah home. He enjoyed playing his drums, playing pool and playing video games. After they moved to Utah, Noah and Rachel loved spending time together exploring the southern part of the state. They traveled the back roads and to National and State parks to see the red rocks, trees, snow and all the beauty of Utah. Noah loved taking family and friends that visited them to his favorite restaurant, All American Diner, in Cedar City. Noah was fiercely patriotic and a stout supporter of the 2nd amendment.
Noah is survived by his wife, Rachel Ann (Leal) Russell of Cedar City, UT, his mother, Janet (Hogwood) Russell of Tracy, CA, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins in the Central Valley of California. He will be missed greatly by his in-laws, Robert and Debbie Leal of Phoenix, AZ, and his sister-in-law Sarah, and brothers-in-law Robbie and Frank. Noah will be missed by his and Rachel’s very good friends, Robert and Maureen Leiva and their daughters and his best friend from California, Anthony Kisner.
Noah was preceded in death by his father Terry Russell, his paternal grandparents Eva and Crawford Russell, his cousin Ryan Russell, his maternal grandfather James Hogwood, his beloved maternal grandmother CoAnn Hogwood and his uncle Michael Hogwood. Noah’s family would like to thank Robert and Maureen Leiva for their help through this journey, Cedar City Motor Company and the employee friends for their support and help, the family and friends that came from California and Arizona to be here for Noah and Rachel and the Intermountain Health Cancer Center in Cedar City for their compassion and kindness. Two celebrations of life will be held: May 25, 12 noon at the Valley Home Community Park, 13218 Minnesota Ave., Valley Home, CA; June 7, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Park Discovery, 2077 W. Royal Hunte Drive, Cedar City, UT.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
May 21, 2025
