Father, Husband Killed in Snowmobile Accident Loved The Outdoors And Helping Others, Family Says
Apr 9, 2019, 6:46 PM | Updated: 9:25 pm
PROVIDENCE, Utah — From his family home, near a stretch of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Chris Checketts had a bedroom view of the mountains, through a bedroom window he cut out himself. Wife, Sandra Checketts says it’s just one example of how much he loved the outdoors.
“He really lived his life to the fullest,” Sandra said.
Checketts was a champion snowmobiler, and ultimately died after a snowmobiling accident near, in the Tony Grove area Thursday.
Checketts was at first badly injured, but later taken off life-support on Saturday—which also happened to be his birthday.
Checketts and his wife, Sandra
“He was doing what he loved,” Sandra said. “We’ve been going through pictures, and we have tens of thousands of pictures of activities our family’s had the privilege to do.”
Even in death, however, Sandra says her husband continues to give and serve. The family learned over the weekend that he was registered as an organ donor.
“And they ended up matching,” daughter Brittany Huish said.
“And it wasn’t a sacrifice, it was a birthday gift,” Sandra Checketts said. “And I want whoever is out there that gets to be a part of our life to know that it was a birthday gift from Chris.”
“He was so focused on the gift of his body, and the strength of his body,” daughter, Kylie Bischoff added. “And that’s what helped so that he could help other people.”
Meantime, the Checketts family says Chris continues to influence their lives in ways that are hard to explain.
The Checketts Family
“As much as it sounds like the right thing to say that he’s gone, I can’t,” daughter, Brittany Huish said. “He’s not gone. He’s everywhere. He’s in the mountains that we see. He’s in the beautiful stars at night.”
In recent weeks, Sandra Checketts says she feels her husband was being prepared for his passing.
“He (was) talking about eternities and Jesus and Heavenly Father on a more deeper note. I can’t explain it,” she said. “Now that he’s passed and we read what he’s left us, it totally makes sense. He had a bigger picture than we did.”
Funeral services for Chris Checketts will be held Wednesday at the Millville Stake Center for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 360 E. 450 N..
The family has set up a fundraising account for funeral expenses, and to help with an upcoming family wedding, on Venmo at @Sandra-Checketts.
Bischoff said, “Once all pressing expenses are met, the family plans to spread as much joy, life, and love to the world as possible.”
