OBITS: The Spectrum 29 May 2005; St. George, Washington co., Utah text-formatted by W. David Samuelsen *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ut/utfiles.htm *********************************************************************** Source: St. George The Spectrum http://www.thespectrum.com Thoral Moosman Collings ST. GEORGE, Utah - Thoral Moosman Collings, age 83, passed away Thursday, May 26, 2005, at Kolob Care & Rehabilitation Center in St. George. He was born September 6, 1921, in Trydell, Utah, the 8th of 9 children, to Richard W. and Anna IsaDora Moosman Collings. He married Dolores Dorthea Brewerton on October 30, 1939, in Butte, Montana. Surviving family include his: nine children, Carolyn Gray, Kathy Dalby, Irene Rigby, Richard Collings, Robert Collings, Kym Gallac, and Shelly White; 27 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and 2 siblings, Iris C. Tope and Horace Collings. He is preceded in death by his: parents; six brothers and sisters; and one great-granddaughter. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 31, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. at the Spilsbury Mortuary Chapel, with a viewing from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., prior to services, at the Mortuary. Interment will be at the Ivins 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 May 29, 2005 Ken Gerald Knight MINERSVILLE - Ken Gerald Knight, 74, passed away at his home on May 27, 2005 from complications due to Alzheimer's. Ken was born June 22, 1930 in Cedar City, Utah the oldest son of Royce K. & Wanda Maxine Fenn Knight. He married the love of his life, Ruth Marshall June 28, 1952 in Minersville, Utah. Their marriage was later solemnized in the St George LDS Temple on February 10, 1959. Together they raised 5 children. Ken had a passion for flying. He spent his youth living at the Cedar City airport owned and operated by his father. He learned to fly when he was 15 years old, at one time he was the youngest private pilot in the country. He later received a commercial & instrument rating. After high school, Ken joined the Navy, later he joined the Utah Army National Guard. He served two years active duty with the 213th field artillery battalion in Korea during the war. He was always proud of the fact that his entire battalion returned from the war unharmed. Ken remained in the National Guard for several years while he worked in Cedar for U.S. Steel as an engineer, then later as a city engineer. He then worked full time in the National Guard. He was transferred to Bountiful in 1975 and retired in 1989 as a Colonel and Director of Personal in the Utah National Guard. Ken was always active in the community serving in the BSA Cedar Breaks Council, the Iron County School Board, and other community organizations. He has been an active member of the LDS Church his whole life. He held many callings including Sunday School president, Y.M. President, President of the Stake Seventies Group, Stake Missionary and High Priest Group Leader. Ken served a full time mission with his wife in the Nauvoo, Illinois Mission at the Carthage Jail visitors center in 1989-1990. After his mission they moved to Minersville, Utah where they now reside. He is survived by his wife Ruth, children, Karen (Steve) Hunter of Cedar City, Suzanne (David) Pearson of Clinton, Gerald (Trudy) Knight of Nibley, Jill (Steven) Christensen of Sandy, Curtis (Korene) Knight of Providence, step mother, Dora Knight, brother Don (Amy) Knight and sister Norma DeMille. He has 25 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father Royce & mother Wanda. The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation for the wonderful care he received from Beaver Valley Hospice and Staff, especially Heather, Marlene, Elaine & Diane. Funeral services will be held on May 31, 2005 at 11:00AM at the Minersville 2nd Ward Chapel. Friends and family may pay their respects on Monday evening at the Church in Minersville from 7:00PM to 9:00PM and on Tuesday from 9:30AM to 10:30AM. Interment will be in the Minersville Cemetery under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. Online condolences can be sent to beaver@southernutahmortuary.com. Originally published May 29, 2005 Bert William O'Leary ST. GEORGE - Bert William O'Leary, age 74, passed away peacefully Wednesday afternoon, May 25, 2005 at his home in St. George. He was born August 17, 1930, in Milford, Utah, to Fred W. and Hilda Christensen O'Leary. He married Ruth Louise Webb on December 20, 1961, in the Salt Lake Temple. Bert faithfully cared for Ruth in the last years of her life. She preceded him in death June 10, 2004. Bert served in the U.S. Air Force for four years during the Korean War and was honorably discharged on December 21, 1956. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Samoa from 1957 to 1960. He graduated from BYU in 1962, and then taught as an elementary teacher for Granite School District for 28 years. Upon retiring in 1993, he and Ruth moved to St. George. Bert continued to follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ, recently being ordained to the office of High Priest. Our loving father and doting grandfather, Bert, is survived by his: six children, Cheri (Kyle) Maxwell, Michael O'Leary, Janae (Eric) Beckstrom, Sean (Lorinda) O'Leary, Dawna (Robert) Upshaw and Daniel O'Leary; ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild (who were the lights of his life); one brother, Fred A. (Ginger) O'Leary; and two sisters, Kathlyn Holm and Vanda (Gene) Eversole; and many other beloved family members. He was preceded in death by his: wife, Ruth; parents; and two grandchildren, Tristan and Krystal Beckstrom. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. at the Spilsbury Mortuary Chapel. There will be viewings Tuesday, May 31, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., and Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., prior to services, both at the Mortuary. Interment will be at the Tonaquint 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 May 29, 2005 Marcia Checketts Taylor Dec. 31, 1920 - May 26, 2005 Marcia Checketts Taylor, age 84, passed away at Kolob Care Center in St. George, Utah on May 26, 2005. She was born December 31, 1920 to Charles and Ida May Stevens Checketts in Bear River City, Utah. She married Ralph A. Taylor in the Logan LDS Temple on January 17, 1944. Marcia was raised in Bear River City where she received her first 12 years of schooling. She attended college at Utah State University and BYU. She served an LDS Mission in the Western States Mission which included, New Mexico, Nebraska and Colorado, where she met Ralph who was also a missionary. After they married, they lived in Salt Lake City, Magna and Hunter. During retirement they lived in Mesa, Arizona and the last 8 years in St. George. Marcia worked in retail sales for many years and was thrilled when she found a good bargain. She collected fabric, linens and later tied over 100 quilts for her family and friends. She loved jewelry and had a vast collection of Indian dolls, baskets and artifacts. She served numerous church callings throughout her life including her last and most favorite as Relief Society President in the Mesa 50th Ward. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, 5 children, Linda Taylor, Susanna (Lee) Jones, St. George; Larry R. (Barbara) Taylor, West Jordan; Roger W. (Pam) Taylor, Geyserville, CA.; Rozana (Gary) Wilkey, South Jordan; 12 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, 2 sisters, Arletta Thornley and Minnie Frehner. 1 grandson, 5 brothers, including a fraternal twin and 1 sister preceded her in death. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, May 31, 2005 at 12:00 noon at Valley View Funeral Home, 4335 West 4100 South. The family will receive friends at a viewing at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday prior to the service. Interment: Valley View Memorial Park. Originally published May 29, 2005 Scott O. Turner CEDAR CITY, Utah - Scott Oldroyd Turner passed away in St. George, Utah from complications due to cancer on Thursday, May 26, 2005, surrounded by his family. He was born March 8, 1927 in Lyman, Utah, a son of James Collier and Hazel May Oldroyd Turner. He graduated from Wayne High School and attended Utah State University in Logan. Scott lived in Richfield, Utah, for 8 years during which time he began working for the U.S. Forest Service. Later he was transferred to the Payette National Forest in McCall, Idaho, and then to the Bridger National Forest in Kemmerer, Wyoming, where he met BetteLou Beachler. They were married for time and all eternity in the Manti LDS Temple on December 17, 1960. Scott was transferred again to Ogden, Utah, and then to the Challis National Forest in Idaho. He and his family settled in Cedar City, Utah, where he worked for the Dixie National Forest. Scott lived every minute of his life to the fullest, always keeping an upbeat, positive attitude. He enjoyed working for the U.S. Forest Service and was an advocate for multiple use because he was a farmer in his younger years. He served his community through his work in the Lion's Club, where he was president for one year and held many other positions. He was an active member of the LDS Church, where he held many callings including a member of three Bishoprics, Stake High Councilman, and High Priest Group Leader. He loved spending time outdoors, fishing, gardening and hunting. He never met a person he didn't like, especially the youth of the church. He relished the time he spent with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren. Scott is survived by his loving wife, BetteLou of Cedar City; his three children: Susan (Maurice) Stephens, Brea, CA; Greg (Jodi) Turner, England; Laura Turner, Brea, CA; his six grandchildren: Seth Turner, Kaylee Turner, Joseph Stephens, Jamal Stephens, Hong Stephens and Ciara Stephens; his brother and sisters: Mark (Rula, deceased) Turner, Lyman; Dawn (Claud) Mangum, Bountiful; LaWana (Meeks) Morrell, Bicknell; Mabel (Klar) Jorgensen, Richfield; Claudia (Don Emery, deceased) King, Orem; Willis, deceased (Luana) Turner, Loa; he was also preceded in death by a sister, Veneta Turner; and his parents, James Collier and Hazel May Oldroyd Turner. Gentle man, Selfless soul, Gift from God . . . To bless our lives. We love you, DAD! Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 1, 2005 at 12 Noon in the Cedar City 8th LDS Ward Chapel, 212 West 200 South in Cedar City. Friends may call for viewing at the Southern Utah Mortuary, 190 North 300 West in Cedar City, Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. and at the ward chapel Wednesday morning from 10:00 to 11:30 prior to the services. Burial will be in the Cedar City Cemetery under the direction of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield, Salina and Gunnison, Utah. On line guest book at: www.springerturner.com. Originally published May 29, 2005