OBITS: The Spectrum 8 Nov 2005; St. George, Washington co., Utah text-formatted by W. David Samuelsen for The USGenWeb Archives Project *********************************************************************** 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 Curtis Orvil Johnson CEDAR CITY - Curtis Orvil Johnson, age 62, passed away on Saturday, November 5, 2005 in Cedar City, Utah. He was born on April 8, 1943 in Huntington, Utah to Delcina and Orvil Johnson. Curtis grew up in Hiawatha, Utah and graduated from Carbon High School. Curtis obtained a Bachelors degree from the University of Utah and a Masters degree in Psychology from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. After graduation from the U of U, Curtis moved to Cedar City where he began his career with Job Service and later became the Employment Center Manager. He was appointed by Governor Leavitt to be the last Administrator of Job Service and then the Deputy Director of the Utah Department of Workforce Services. Curtis retired in 2002 after 32 years of public service. Curtis loved the outdoors and spent many hours with his friends and family fishing, camping, hunting, hiking and four-wheeling. He was an avid golfer and loved tennis, dancing and music. Curtis spent many years as a Scout Master and also coached a little league baseball team. He was a member of the Cedar City Rotary, Cedar City and Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce and the Cedar City Elks Lodge. Curtis is survived by his wife Kathleen, children, Travis (Tracey) Johnson of Cedar City, Utah and Amber (David) Bringhurst of Parowan, Utah, sister Kay Colosimo and Jack Leautaud of Price, Utah; grandchildren Jesse, Skylar, and Brandon Johnson, Alysha Hardy and Kallie Jo Stewart, mother-in-law Venice Knight of Delta, Utah, brother-in-law Newel B. (Jackie) Knight of Reno, Nevada, sister-in-laws Krys Knight of Ogden, Utah and Charlene (James) Hasenyager of Huntsville, Utah; nieces and nephews, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He is preceded in death by his mother Delcina Colosimo, father Orvil Johnson, step-father Sam Colosimo and father-in-law Newel W. Knight. The family would like to thank Dr. Taj Becker and her staff and Dr. Phillip Smith and his staff for the loving care and support they proved to Curtis and his family. The family would also like to thank the staff at Emerald Pointe Assisted Living Center, Odyssey Hospice and the Kolob Care and Rehabilitation Center who lovingly cared for Curtis. Words cannot adequately express our thanks to our friends, co-workers and family who were always there when we needed them. A memorial service will be held on Friday afternoon, November 11, 2005, 12:00 noon at the Southern Utah Mortuary located at 190 North 300 West in Cedar City, Utah. Friends and family may call on Thursday evening, November 10, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Friday morning, November 11, from 10:00 to 11:45 a.m. Online condolences may be sent through our website at www.sumfamily.com In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to your favorite charity or to give "The Gift of Life" and become an organ donor. Originally published November 8, 2005 Jeffery Dean Dietrich Larsen (09/05/1957 to 11/02/2005) Retired Architect. Born in Sandy, Utah. His father, Dean Larsen, was an oil distributor and later worked in and retired from Military Intelligence. His mother, Mettie Ramona Leonard Larsen, is a retired state employee and a homemaker. In his early years, J.D.D.L. studied art under Don Olsen. He received his BS in 1979 in Urban Social Psychology, and an MS in Environmental Psychology in 1980 both from University of Utah. Continuing his studies there with Professor Cal Taylor, he received his Ph.D. in Architectural Psychology in 1981 graduating Phi Beta Kappa with fellow fraternity brothers. Other degrees obtained elsewhere were in the fields of biology and botany-areas of childhood interest. Choosing to pursue his interests in architecture rather than science and academia, his father introduced him to Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, Taliesin West, where Mrs. Wright personally selected him for apprenticeship and his career began. An early and untimely death of his father required him to return home to care for his Mother and attend to his father's affairs. He moved to New York were he was employed with Paul Rudolph and Associates (1982). In 1985 he was offered a position with Cornoyer-Hedrich in Phoenix as a senior designer. He left Cornoyer-Hedrich in 1986 to independently work. In his view, his first major work did not occur until 1989 when he planned and designed St. George Catholic Church and Parish Center in Utah. Larsen's Central Avenue practice specialized in Healthcare and Education facilities. J.D.D.L. was a member of the Taliesin Fellowship, the Kebyar Fellowship, The Arizona-Mexican Commission and the Society for American Registered Architects. Like his friends and interests, his practice was global, his client list private and his love of his art, science and architecture immense. In additional to architectural commissions, J.D.D.L. also found time to pursue his modern art passion through his own paintings and collecting. He supported national and local community interests and the arts, also volunteering countless hours for friends, mentoring young architects and engineers. Over the years, selected works of J.D.D.L. have been profiled in local, state and international publications and has received design and business awards. Samples of his works may be viewed www.xxarchitex.com. An avid biologist, his private journal focuses on his favorite species - the Morpho butterfly. He first began organic butterfly and moth garden environments more than 25 years ago. His personal collection spans 40 years. J.D.D.L. loved Mexico, spending every opportunity across the boarder with friends. He was a playful, engagingly modest, brilliant man. His wife, Amy McClellan Larsen, his loving younger sister, Lisa Larsen, and his mother, Mettie Ramona Leonard Larsen, his aunt and uncle, Mr. & Mrs. Clifford Bowers, an older half- sister, Marcy Frances, and many loving cousins and nephews, survive J.D. Dietrich Larsen. Very special to the immediate Larsen family are Mr. & Mrs. J.M. McClellan and Mrs. Evelyn C. Grosjean, and dear friends/family - Mrs. I. Berndtson, Ms. G. Burke, Mr. & Mrs. J. Gordon, Mr. S. Grierson, Mr. & Mrs. H. Migdal, Mr. & Mrs. D. F. Roberts, Mr. & Mrs. D. Rothschild, Mr. & Mrs. W. Schulz, Mr. Scott Ross, Dr. C.J. Thinnes and Father Daniel Syverstad. The immediate family wishes to extend an affectionate thank you to the staff of MD Anderson Cancer Center staff, especially the Sarcoma Unit, Houston Hospice, South Main Baptist Church and the Phoenix Art Museum League. Private interment is planned for Southern Arizona. Memorial Services are being planned for friends in Phoenix, St. George and Salt Lake Cities and will be announced. In lieu of flowers, it is the express wish of J.D. Dietrich Larsen that donations be sent to The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Archives, Taliesin West, Attn: Indira Berndtson, P.O. Box 4430, Scottsdale, Arizona, 85261-4430. Originally published November 8, 2005 Katherine W. McElyea RICHFIELD - Katherine Laurel Willardson McElyea, 47, passed away November 6, 2005 at her home in Richfield. She was born August 30, 1958 in San Diego, CA to Kenneth Emery and Hilda Virginia Touchstone Willardson. She married Richard McElyea, they later divorced. She worked as a 911 operator and also for the computer department at Dixie Regional. She also enjoyed working as a designer in a floral shop. Katherine had fond memories of Richfield and the surrounding area from many wonderful trips there in her youth and chose to make it her home for the past 3 years. She is survived by her father, Kenneth of Orem; children Michael, Andrew and Alexis McElyea all of San Diego; brothers, Bradley Kenneth (Cathy) Willardson of Yelm, WA, Marcus Euguen (JiNell) New Harmony; Michael Emery Willardson of Elk, WA, Robert Leon Willardson of Salt Lake City. She is preceded in death by her mother; a sister, Angelia Marie Moody and an infant brother, Kenneth Emery Willardson Jr. Funeral services will take place on Friday, November 11, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. in the St. George 6th LDS Ward Chapel, 85 South 400 East. Friends may call at the Magleby Mortuary in Richfield on Thursday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m and at the ward chapel in St. George on Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the St. George Cemetery. Online guest book www.maglebymortuary.com. Originally published November 8, 2005 John Abraham Van Orman John Abraham Van Orman, 92, died peacefully at home in Provo, Utah on November 2, 2005. He followed his wife of 70 years, Eva Christensen Van Orman, six weeks after her death. "John A" was born in Montpelier, Idaho on April 15, 1913, the third of four children of John Van Orman and Dorothea Welker. He was also preceded in death by his siblings and two sons, Robert and Chresten. He will be lovingly remembered by daughter Ellen Hutt (Larry) and sons Jan (Margot) and Greg (Mickey), and his 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. John had exceptional artistic talent and overcame amazing odds to become a prominent commercial artist. He moved to New York City when he was 19 and within a few years became the youngest art director in New York. He married Eva Christensen on September 26, 1935; they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. In 1954, John followed the movie industry to Southern California, where he raised his family. He worked with each of the major motion picture studios and was the art director at Universal Studios for most of his career. In 1975, John and Eva moved to St. George, Utah and spent their summers at Bear Lake, Idaho. They loved the mountains of the West and the beauty of nature. John's favorite times were returning to Idaho to walk the mountains he walked as a youth. John had an abiding faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and was strongly loyal to his family. He served as a bishop in Encino, California and throughout his remaining life heard from those whose lives he had touched. He was a quiet, dignified and respectful man who was reluctant to impose upon others. The son of a blacksmith and elementary school teacher, he was self-taught and fiercely independent. He provided well for his family and left an inspiring example of achievement and hard work. He was honored in a family gathering on November 7, 2005 and buried in the Provo City Cemetery. Originally published November 8, 2005