OBITS: The Spectrum 20 Oct 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 Irene Fay Arvig HURRICANE - Irene Fay Arvig, 89, passed away October 18, 2005 at her home in Hurricane, Utah. She was born Dec. 4, 1915, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Ernest Henry Rogers and Dora T. Kiser. She married Milton Francis Arvig in Long Beach, CA, in November of 1938. Irene was raised in Wilmington, CA. As a young girl, she loved the beach and being outdoors. She had many close friends and had wonderful memories of times spent with them. She is survived by her daughter, Katherine (Joseph) Bracamonte; son, Lyman, son, Allen (Valorie) and son Steve (Joyce) and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Graveside services will be held Friday, October 21, 2005, at 12 p.m., at the St. George City Cemetery under the direction of Metcalf Mortuary 435-673-4221. A visitation will be held Friday, from 10-11:30 a.m., at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 W. St. George Blvd., prior to graveside services. Condolences may be sent to the family through Metcalf's website at www.metcalfmortuary.com. Originally published October 20, 2005 VeraDeane Parkes Blackburn ST. GEORGE - VeraDeane Parkes Blackburn of St. George, Utah, at the age of 93, passed away on Monday, October 17, 2005, in Toquerville, Utah. She was born on February 21, 1912, in Nephi, Utah, to Thomas H. G. and G. Itha Bigler Parkes. She married Ferl Blackburn on June 29, 1937, in the Manti Temple in Manti, Utah. A woman of rare wisdom and charm, VeraDeane enriched the lives of all she befriended and taught. She grew up in a large blended family where she learned to enjoy reading, sports, and storytelling. She lived in many communities in Utah, Wyoming and Oregon, and made friends wherever she went. She was a beloved master teacher, teaching both children and adults in school, church and the community. She received her teaching degree from BYU in 1935, and later earned a B.S. degree in Education in 1954. Her first teaching assignment was in Orderville, Utah, where she met and married Ferl Blackburn, the love of her life. She subsequently taught for over 35 years in various elementary and high schools in parts of Southern Utah and Portland, Oregon. She especially loved teaching 1st grade. It gave her the greatest joy. She served in numerous administrative, missionary, and teaching positions in the Church, and was an amazing Gospel Doctrine teacher. In 1946, she and her husband served a mission in the New England States. Her last few years were spent working at the St. George Temple, and volunteering for the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. Her quick mind and constant sense of humor brought joy to all around her. VeraDeane and Ferl gave lovingly and generously to everyone they knew. For years they nurtured and planted flowers to beautify the streets of Orderville and Veyo. They shared vegetables from their gardens with members of their church, family and community. She touched many people's lives with her happiness and love for life. She is survived by many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed, but will be welcomed with open arms by her husband, her parents, and nine siblings who preceded her in death. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 22, 2005, at 1:00 p.m. at the Spilsbury Mortuary Chapel, with a viewing from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., prior to services, at the Mortuary. Interment will be at the St. George 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 October 20, 2005 David Farrar David Farrar passed away Saturday, October 8, 2005 at the age of 50. He is survived by his wife Fran, four children & eight grandchildren. Funeral services were held October 14, 2005 in Visalia, Calif. Originally published October 20, 2005 Ellen Jones Savage LEEDS - Our mother, Ellen Jones Savage, passed away on October 18, 2005, at her home in Leeds, Utah. She was born November 25, 1910, in Sanford, Colorado to Edwin and Amy Whitney Jones. She married Ross Cooper Savage on July 13, 1940, in the St. George LDS Temple. Mom taught school in Sanford, CO, and Kamas, UT. She served in civic venues, i.e., PTA, Farm Bureau and DUP. She was a member of the LDS Church where she had many ward and Stake callings while caring for her family and handicapped daughter. Mom has enjoyed a bright, inquisitive mind, was widely read and was often referred to for her knowledge of Southern Utah, past and present. In her beautiful hand, she wrote dozens of poems, tributes and scripts for special occasions. She loved a good story and had a great sense of humor. She was wise, intuitive and steady. She and Dad practiced "pure religion" as they cared for the widows and fatherless, took in the homeless and welcomed new-comers. They were a magnificent team. She is survived by her daughters Amy Lu (Otto) Jones of South Jordan, UT, Maryann (Robert) Bray of Huntsville, TX, Susan and Elene Savage of Leeds, UT, 15 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Friday, October 21, 2005, at 11 a.m. at the Leeds LDS Ward Chapel, 75 N. Main Street, Leeds, UT. A visitation will be held Thursday, from 6-8 p.m., at Metcalf Mortuary, St. George, UT, and Friday, from 9:30-10:30 a.m., prior to services at the chapel. Interment will be in the Leeds Cemetery under the direction of Metcalf Mortuary 435-673-4221. Condolences may be sent to the family through Metcalf's website at www.metcalfmortuary.com Originally published October 20, 2005 Frank Wayne Whitehead ST. GEORGE - Frank Wayne Whitehead, 88, passed away October 8, 2005 at his home in St. George. He was born Sept. 6, 1917 in St. George to Clara Jane Church and Gordon Whitehead. He married Helen Hafen March 30, 1940 in the St. George LDS Temple. They had two children, Clark Wayne and Lisa Jane. After the death of Helen, he married Janice Merryweather Olsen in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Wayne was raised in St. George and attended Dixie High, Dixie College and University of Bern in Switzerland. He served two years in the army during WWII and after returning home he owned and operated the St. George Ice Plant with his brother Grant for 25 years. Wayne was very active in the community serving on the St. George Planning Commission, Dixie College Institutional Council, and the St. George City Council. He was a member of the Dixie College Colonels, Lions Club (50 years), and the Volunteer Fire Department (65 years). Dixie College awarded him with an honorary degree in 1970 and St. George recognized his as their Total Citizen in 1990. He was an active member of the LDS Church and served in many callings. He and his wife, Janice, served a mission in Winnipeg, Canada and he was a sealer in the St. George LDS Temple for many years. One of his favorite past times was to go to the golf course with his buddies and play a round of golf. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Grant, his wife, Helen and son Clark. He is survived by his wife, Janice of 31 years, his daughter Lisa (Randy) Shaw, son Chris (Ali) Olsen, daughter-in-law Andrea (Gary) Parry, grandchildren Christopher (Tiffany) Parry, Jennifer, Curtis, Kason and Courtney Shaw, Lindy (Kent) Jones, brothers Howard (Nelda) Whitehead and Rulon (Darlene) Whitehead and many other family and friends. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 22, 2005, at 11:00 a.m., at the St. George LDS Stake Center, (Bluff Street Chapel) 591 W. 500 N. A visitation will be held Friday, from 6-8 p.m., at Metcalf Mortuary and Saturday, from 9:30-10:30 a.m., prior to services at the Stake Center. Interment will be in the St. George City Cemetery under the direction of Metcalf Mortuary 435-673-4221. Condolences may be sent to the family through Metcalf's website at www.metcalfmortuary.com Originally published October 20, 2005 DEATH NOTICE Anton Brent Gehring VIRGIN - Anton Brent Gehring, 63, died Oct. 15, 2005, in his Virgin, Utah home. He was born June 2, 1942, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Anton is survived by his companion: Fae Ellsworth; seven children and four step children. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m. in the Virgin LDS Ward Chapel, 37 N. Mill St., Virgin, Utah. Originally published October 20, 2005