Rod L. Houston passed away at the age of 89 on December 20, 2025, at his home in Orem, Utah, surrounded by his family. Rod lived a life marked by kindness, curiosity, adventure, and an uncommon ability to connect with people wherever he went.

As a young boy, Rod moved from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles, where he spent his childhood with his three brothers. He called California home for the first four decades of his life.

The summer of Rod's 15th year changed his life! He jumped in the car with some buddies, with the permission of a very trusting mom, and headed up to Yosemite National Park, hoping to get a job for the summer. He started scooping ice cream at the Housekeeping Camp store window and worked his way up to manager of that same store for over 18 summers. His experiences in Yosemite formed the person he became, including the skills he developed, his deep love of the earth's beauty, and the creation of lifelong friendships. If you talked to Rod for any amount of time, you heard a Yosemite story or two.

Rod graduated from Brigham Young University. While he attended, he was a Brigadier, where he thrived socially, making deep friendships that have lasted throughout his life.

Rod married his sweetheart, Nancy Rose Barraclough, on June 6, 1959, in the Los Angeles LDS Temple. They made their home in Northridge, California, while Rod taught math and science at Birmingham High School. This schedule kept their summers free to work in Yosemite, and they even started adding children to their summer break adventures. Their first three daughters count those times with their dad as some of their most treasured memories.

Summers in Yosemite came to an end when Rod became a bishop for his church at the young age of 35. This began a long life of service of helping others in need, especially the young men and women he served.

Rod, Nancy, and their four daughters moved to Orem, Utah, in July of 1976, where they bought a store in Provo and named it Houston's Market. Soon after, Rod was hired to start the counselling program when Timpview High School opened in 1978. Though he was known to many as "Hot Rod," the handsome counselor who drove a vintage red convertible Corvette to work, he was much more than that. Rod spent the rest of his working career helping to shape teenagers and put them on a path to success.

Rod found great joy in serving his family and friends. He could fix almost anything and find solutions to problems. He was someone people went to for advice and help.

Rod always had his next trip planned. He spent his summers in the 1980s traveling across North America in their Pace Arrow motorhome. Once Rod and Nancy raised their children, they traveled to Europe and took cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean.

Through their church callings, Rod and Nancy served many people, including the Navajo Nation in the New Mexico Albuquerque Mission. Their adventures together came to an end when Nancy became ill and passed away in the late summer of 2015. Rod had a way of making the most out of life. After Nancy's passing, he began taking his four daughters on Daddy Daughter trips each summer. They traveled to Alaska, Cancun, took cruises, made multiple trips to Hawaii, and shared their final adventure together, visiting Yosemite National Park, where Rod recorded his priceless stories.

Rod married Bev Merkley in the fall of 2018. Their relationship brought Rod love and companionship. Bev and Rod spent their first years enjoying one another's company and traveling the world. Bev cared for Rod as his health declined with an unconditional love that was extraordinary. Bev's family became a second family to Rod, and he loved them all. The Houston girls will be forever grateful for the love the Merkley family showed to their dad.

We will miss Rod and know he is planning his next adventure, one that might even be better than an Alaskan cruise.

A viewing for family and friends will be held on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Sharon 3rd Ward Chapel, 700 E. 445 S. in Orem, Utah. The funeral service will follow at 12:00 p.m. in the same building. Interment will be held at the Orem City Cemetery, with graveside services following. A webcast of the service will be available at www.walkersanderson.com .

Rod was preceded in death by his first wife, Nancy Barraclough Houston; his parents, Myrle and Earl Houston; and his brothers, Ron and Roger Houston. He is survived by his wife, Bev Merkley Houston; his children, Laura Houston, Dana Chappell, Shana Muse, and Deena Rutter; their partners and families; and his brother, Robert Houston.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Yosemite.org in honor of Rod, and plan a trip while you're at it!