OBITS: The Spectrum 24 Apr 2005; St. George, Washington co., Utah

text-formatted by W. David Samuelsen
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Source: St. George The Spectrum http://www.thespectrum.com

Lem William Epler

LEEDS, Utah - Lem William Epler, age 68, passed away Wednesday, April 20,
2005, in Leeds, Utah. He was born in Los Angeles, California, to William
Harrison and Ruth Fifer Epler. Lem married Crystal L. Flewell on December 1,
1956, in Azusa, California. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Los
Angeles Temple.

Lem was raised and educated in Montebello, California, and spent most of his
life in California. Lem and Crystal served as Foster Parents for 20 years. He
was a retired Fireman, Utilities Inspector, Truck Driver and a Bell Telephone
Technician. After retirement, Lem and Crystal moved to Southern Utah.

Lem was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving
in various positions. He loved his children, grandchildren, fishing, and
hunting.

Surviving family include his: loving wife of 47 years, Crystal, of Leeds;
beloved children, Debra (Richard) King, of San Diego, CA, Terri (Adam)
Kasztelewicz, of Alta Loma, CA, Brant (Linda) Epler of Stockton, CA, Amber
(Heath) Hatch of Vail, CO, and Erin (Matt) Richmond, of Hurricane, UT; 5 very
special foster children; 9 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; one brother;
six sisters; Aunt Betty and Uncle Bud. He was preceded in death by his
parents, one brother and two sisters.

Funeral services will be held Monday, April 25, 2005, at 1:00 p.m., at the
Leeds 2nd Ward Chapel. There will be a viewing Sunday, April 24, from 6:00 to
7:00 p.m. at the Hurricane Valley Mortuary, and again on Monday from 11:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m., prior to services, at the Chapel. Interment will be at the
Hurricane City Cemetery. Arrangements are made under the direction of
Hurricane Valley Mortuary, 140 N. Main St., Hurricane, (435) 635-2454. W.
Russell Atkin, Funeral Director.

Friends and family are invited to offer their condolences at
www.spilsburymortuary.com. Click on the dove. Obituaries are also available at
our Web site. Click on the rose.

Originally published April 24, 2005

Curtis & Camron Merrell

After a valiant battle, twins Curtis Corey and Camron Bryce Merrell passed
away on April 19, 2005 at the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake
City, Utah. They were born on April 17, 2005 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Corey
and Audree Merrell. Their short lives have blessed all those who know and love
them.

Curtis and Camron are survived by their Mom and Dad, brother Porter Garth and
sister Brooke Ruth of Cedar City, Utah. Grandparents Susan Merrell, Brent and
Paula Merrell all of Cedar City, Utah; Mary Cluff of Vernal, Utah; and Jack
and LeAnn Cluff of Snowflake, Arizona. Great-Grandparents Rae Rasmussen and
Lorin F. Merrell both of Vernal, Utah and Veda Cluff of Fredonia, Arizona.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, April 25, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at
Southern Utah Mortuary. Friends and family may call on Monday morning one hour
prior to services at the mortuary. Interment will be in the Cedar City
Cemetery.

Originally published April 24, 2005

'Lil Abner' Slack

HURRICANE, Utah - Amber "Lil Abner" Slack, age 80, passed away at his home in
Hurricane on Thursday, April 21, 2005, after a courageous battle with
Pulmonary Fibrosis. Amber was born April 7, 1925, in Hurricane, Utah to
Chester Rollin and Eulalia Wright Slack. He married Irene Prisbrey June 3,
1946, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Amber was reared and educated in Hurricane. At age 17, he decided it was time
to be on his own. With permission from his parents and the school, Amber and
his buddies moved to Boulder City, Nevada to work at Boulder Dam, now Hoover
Dam. He entered the United States Navy in 1943, and served until 1946, when he
was honorably discharged.

After his service in the Navy, he married Irene and they made their home in
Boulder City. Amber returned to work at Boulder Dam and began his career with
the Bureau of Reclamation. In 1949, their son, Ross William Slack, was born.
Amber had many different responsibilities and promotions while working at
Hoover Dam, all of which involved operating some type of heavy equipment. He
was a master of all trades. Amber took pride in what he did. Many of his
duties were very demanding and required the utmost skill at all times. In
1972, after 30 years of hard work and dedication, Amber retired.

After retirement, Amber and Irene bought a large RV and traveled 8000 miles
throughout Mexico, exploring jungles and small villages. Upon returning from
Mexico, Amber was sought out by a private contractor to replace the cable way
over the Black Canyon. This job lasted 7 months, then it was on the road
again. Amber and Irene traveled all over the Western States for several years,
before returning to Boulder City to sell their home and build a summer home in
Pine Valley, Utah. After nine years, they sold their home in Pine Valley and
went full-time in the R.V., the life they loved, making many special friends
along the way. Besides hard work and traveling, Amber loved to fish, hunt,
metal detect and garden. His life was his family and the outdoors. His son,
Ross, was his pride and joy.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Irene; son, Ross William (Sharon)
Slack, of Henderson, NV; brother, Lloyd Slack, of Boulder City, NV; two
sisters, LaVell Robb, of Cedar City, UT, and Eileen Blake, of St. George, UT.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Chester Rollin and Eulalia Wright
Slack, and brother, Gerald Slack.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 26, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. in the
Hurricane 13th Ward Chapel, 402 N. 2600 W. Family and friends may gather prior
to the services from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Chapel. Interment will
follow the services at the Hurricane City Cemetery. Arrangements are made
under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, UT,
(435) 673-2454.

Friends and family are invited to offer their condolences at
www.spilsburymortuary.com. Click on the dove. Obituaries are also available at
our website. Click on the rose.

Originally published April 24, 2005

Viola Myrtle Hamilton Wagenman

VEYO, Ut - Viola Myrtle Hamilton Wagenman, age 91, passed away April 20, 2005
at her daughter's home in Veyo, Utah. She was born February 7, 1914, in
Williston, North Dakota to Inga Hval and Lee Bradford Hamilton. Viola married
Millard Wagenman in Sidney, MT., in March of 1934. She was raised in Idaho and
North Dakota.

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held
numerous church positions throughout her life. Viola and her husband, Millard,
farmed northwest of Williston, North Dakota for 25 years.

She loved to sew and made most of her own clothes. She loved doing genealogy,
traveling and family parties.

She is survived by sons: Larry of Montana, John (Cathy) of Orem, UT, Dale of
Grand Junction, CO, Jim (Mary Ellen) of Twin Falls, ID, and daughter, Joy
(Gary) Fountaine of Veyo, UT. She is also survived by 27 grandchildren,
numerous great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren, brother; Paul
of California, and sister, Jean. She was preceded in death by her husband,
Millard, three grandchildren, two sisters and one brother.

Funeral services will be held Monday, April 25, 2055, at 11 a.m., at Metcalf
Mortuary Chapel, 288 W. St. George Blvd., in St. George, Utah. A visitation
will be held Monday, April 25, from 9:30-10:30 a.m., prior to services at the
mortuary. Interment will be in the Preston City Cemetery in Preston, Idaho
under the direction of Metcalf Mortuary 435-673-4221. Condolences may be sent
through Metcalf's Web site at www.metcalfmortuary.com.

Originally published April 24, 2005