Our beloved husband and father, Cort Firth, returned to the loving arms of our Father in Heaven on July 9, 2021, after a valiant battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). His final days and moments were spent how he was happiest—fully surrounded by his family.
Cort was born on August 27th, 1957, the sixth of seven children born to Rex and Peggy Firth. His youth was filled with many fond memories of his family home on Wasatch Drive. He attended Highland High School, where he played football, and later went on to play football for the University of Utah. Cort served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Tallahassee, Florida, and was the first missionary in his family ever to serve. Following his mission, he resumed his education at the University of Utah, where he met the love of his life, Lisa Rasmussen. They were married June 18, 1981, in the Salt Lake Temple, and just recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. His final words in this mortal life were to express his love to his wife.
Cort graduated from the University of Utah in Biology and Accounting and spent 30 years happily employed as a CPA at Workers Compensation Fund. There, with unmatched humor and sarcasm, he made lifelong friends who also became family. He retired December 31, 2020, at the age of 63.
Cort was diagnosed with ALS in the summer of 2018. He met this heartbreaking diagnosis in true Cort fashion---with courage, humility, humor, and of course a little bit of stubbornness. He never once complained, and expressed only gratitude to those around him. While ALS would ultimately rob him of his retirement golden years, Cort lived his golden years throughout his life. Cort's true happiness was in his family, and together with his wife, they spent years making many happy memories traveling, playing, boating in Lake Powell, and spending time together with their four daughters. Cort had a hard fast rule that he did not travel without his kids, and was able to travel to many places across the world with his family. He loved Utah football, watching any & all sporting events, performances, and recitals for his kids and grandkids, and "porch talk" with his wife. He was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and was especially loved by the youth. His wit, sarcasm, and example of service, won him a fan club almost everywhere he went.
Cort is survived by his wife Lisa, his daughters Megan (Bucky) Gay, Ashlee (Roger) Gardner, Whitney (Davis) Warnock, and Callie Reid; as well as 12 grandkids (Beau, Bennett, Kimball, Enzo, Roseli, Brooklyn, Brynlee, Maci, Lexi, Morgan, Barrett, & Cortney (who is named after him); as well as his siblings Terry (Bruce Wallin), Holly (Rob) Elliott, Tim (Sam) Firth, Caprice Nutley; and his in-laws Paul (Lynette) Rasmussen, Michelle (Doug) Taylor, Jodie (Brad) Cahoon; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Rex and Peggy, a baby sister Randy, his sister Tanya & her husband Bruce, and sister-in-law Kathy, and his father & mother in-law Richard and Sharon Rasmussen.
Funeral services for Cort will be held Friday, July 16, at 11:00am at the chapel on 8945 S 1700 E, Sandy 84093. Viewings will be held Thursday evening July 15, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, and Friday morning before the service 9:30 am to 10:30am, at the same location. Special thanks to Wasatch Lawn Memorial Estates for their help with funeral services. Interment will be held at Memorial Mountain View Cemetery 3115 E Bengal Blvd Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121
The family would like to thank those at Summit Home Health & Hospice, as well as the University of Utah Neurology Clinic (Dr Mark Bromberg), and the ALS association, for their loving care and support.
His daughters would like to thank (both their mom and dad) for their examples, happiness, and love. Dad you will be deeply missed, and we send our eternal love to heaven until we see you again!
