OBITS: The Spectrum 22 Sep 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 Ann Smith Atwood LAVERKIN - Ann S. Atwood, age 58, passed away Wednesday, September 21, 2005 at her home in LaVerkin. She was born November 2, 1946, in Delta, Utah, to Charley R. and LaRue Baldwin Smith. Ann lived in Lynndyl, Utah until she was two years old when she moved to Provo. She graduated from Provo High School with honors and part of her college degree. She was sealed to Alma Kay Atwood on April 15, 1965, in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived in Orem where they raised their four daughters and two sons. In 1993, they moved to LaVerkin, where they started a life of world wide travel, helping trouble teenagers. Ann served as a leader in many capacities for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved the young women camps and backpack trips and being with the youth, but most of all her service. Her most recent service was to the LaVerkin 1st Ward Relief Society as the President. She loved to serve the Lord and did so till the end. She is survied by her husband, Alma kay Atwood, four daughters, Connie (Clint) Gray, Kristy (Doug) Hall, Cindy (Kevin) Simmons, and Alecia (Jim) Willard; two sons, Alan (Tawny) and Scott (Erika); parents Charley and LaRue Smith; eight grandsons; 14 granddaughters; brother, Jerry Smith; sisters, June Laws, and Peggy Blackett. She is preceded in death by her brother, Alan Smith. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 24, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. at the LaVerkin Stake Center, with a viewing Friday, September 23, 2005, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Hurricane Valley Mortuary, 140 N. Main St., and again Saturday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., prior to services at the Stake Center. Interment will be in the LaVerkin Cemetery. Arrangements are made under the direction of Hurricane Valley Mortuary, Funeral Director Russell Atkin, (435) 635-2454. 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 September 22, 2005 John Alfred Fawson ST. GEORGE - John Alfred Fawson, age 87, returned to his loved ones on Tuesday, September 20, 2005. John was born in Perry, Box Elder, Utah, to Alfred Fawson and Maria Elizabeth Hill on August 8, 1918. He married Ruby Jean Knowles August 8, 1943, in Alameda, California, their marriage was sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on August 11, 1943. John was raised in Brigham City, Utah and graduated from Box Elder High School in 1936. He participated in band, archery and the Engineers Club during his high school years. He served his country during World War II in the Japanese Theater and became part of the occupying force at the end of the War. Upon returning from the war, he met his firstborn son, who was then 18 months old, and settled into life working at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California. He started his career as a shipfitter and worked his was up to planning and estimating. John's last working years were spent constructing atomic submarines. He retired form Mare Island in February of 1974, after 32 years of service. He enjoyed his years of golfing and time with his family. John was a wonderful mechanic and fix-it man, helping anyone in need. He spent many wonderful hours working around the house. He and Jean spent many quite years traveling in their travel trailer, enjoying the beauties of nature and time with friends. John was an active and dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints, with a strong, unwavering faith in his Savior, Jesus Christ. He served in many callings in the church, including counselor in the bishopric and temple ordinance worker in the Oakland Temple. he was always quick to serve others, to work on the ward farm, and feed the missionaries. He was a person of unquestionable honesty, and was completely dedicated to his loving wife. John is survived by his eternal companion of 62 years, R. Jean Knowles Fawson, of St. George, UT; his five children, Donald (Rececca) Fawson, of Leeds, UT, James (Rebecca) Fawson, of Fairfield, CA, Richard (Yvonne) Fawson, of Fairfield, CA, Robert (Amelia) Fawson, of Fairfield, CA, and Elizabeth Sweaney, of Santa Clara, UT; 25 grandchildren; and 43 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Alfred and Elizabeth Hill Fawson, and his four sisters, Mabel Yourt Davis, Ellen Paterson, Lucile Westley, and Rotha Jones. Funeral services will be Saturday, September 24, 2005, at 11:00 a.m., at the Snow Canyon Ward Chapel, 1625 N. Lava Flow Dr., St. George, with a viewing Friday, September 23, 2005, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., and again Saturday, one hour prior to services, at the Chapel. Interment will be in the Tonaquint Cemetery. Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, (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 September 22, 2005 Gone Flying J. Lester Clark returned to his Heavenly Father on Tuesday, September 20, 2005. Les was born on February 28, 1928 to Samuel W. and Ada Clark in Grantsville, Utah. Les was raised in the Tooele Valley and was the student body president for Tooele High School in 1946. He married the love of his life, Diane Jones, in 1948. Together they raised six children that were a great source of pride to him. Les was the visionary behind Stansbury Park and worked hard to see his dream become a reality. He loved to fly and was an accomplished pilot. His wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the most important things in his life and he demonstrated his love for them everyday. Les is survived by his wife, Diane; children, Jerry (Michelle), Leslie, Elesa (Allen) Gollaher, David (Tristin), Charlie (Christi) and Steve; 21 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters, Florine Armstrong, Deon Butler, Ruby Clark, Shirley (Richard) McKinnon; and brother, Dwight (Bertha) Clark. Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 11 a.m. at the Crescent Ridge 5th Ward Chapel, 10975 South Prescott Drive, Sandy, Utah, where friends may call Thursday 6-8 p.m. and Friday 10-10:45 a.m. Interment, Larkin Sunset Gardens, Sandy, Utah. Goff Mortuary, funeral directors. Originally published September 22, 2005 Edmond Luther McAllister Ed passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family on September 20, 2005. Ed was born February 18, 1924 in Mesa, Arizona, the oldest child of Luther McAllister and Susanna Johnstun. On October 19, 1944 he married his sweetheart, Blanche Bates, in the LDS Arizona Temple. They would have celebrated their 61st anniversary next month. Ed grew up in Mesa, Arizona and graduated from Mesa High School after which he served as a Pharmacist's Mate in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Some of his favorite activities were fishing and playing softball. He played for many years in the Phoenix City League and later in life for 14 years in the Huntsman Senior Games. He also refereed high school basketball for 25 years. As an active member of the LDS church he held many callings, but his favorite was coaching the young men's basketball team. He was a member of the St. George Rotary Club, Colonels Club, and worked as an appraiser for Washington County. He is survived by his beloved wife Blanche, sons Ed, Brian (Diana), daughter Sue (Cal) Peaden, 14 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren who all thought the world of him. The viewing will be Saturday, September 24, 2005 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Funeral Services will be held Saturday September 24th at 11:00 a.m. at the St. George 12th Ward on 400 S. 300 E. Internment will be at the St. George Cemetery under the direction of Metcalf Mortuary (435) 673-4221. Originally published September 22, 2005 Jack Wayne Merryman ST. GEORGE - Jack Wayne Merryman was born in Dallas County, Iowa, December 7, 1922 to Henry S. and Phyllis Sheets Merryman and died September 20, 2005 in St. George, Utah. He was born in a house on the land where his great great grandfather had settled in Boone Township before 1850. Jack and his parents lived in Cordova, Iowa until his father died at age 29. Jack and his mother then returned to Dallas County where Jack attended country schools and later Van Meter High School. When he was 13 his mother married again to Frank Lorenzen and in 1939 they moved to a farm near Truro, Iowa where he graduated from high school in 1941. He attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa before joining the Army where he served his country in WWII with the 612 Engineers Light Equipment Company, landing in Normandy on D-day and participating in the Battle of the Bulge. He received the Bronze Star and five battle stars during service in France, Belgium and Germany. He was married to Catherine "Cay" Genson on June 12, 1943 in Rockport, Missouri and they were later sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple. After the war Jack continued his education and graduated from Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, where he served as Student Council President and was mentioned in "Who's Who in Americana Colleges and Universities." He spent 32 years with the Chevrolet Division of General Motors in Des Moines, Clear Lake and Ft. Dodge, IA; Watertown, SD, Fargo, ND, Moorhead and Minneapolis, MN and Lombard, IL where he was Regional Merchandising Manager for passenger cars for a five state area. Jack served in two Bishoprics and two Stake High Councils for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is survived by his wife and three children, Jan Smith (James Parson) of Cohasset, MN; Mark (Carol) Merryman and Kristin (James) Carle of Hanau, Germany, six grandchildren; Jenn Seal of Chicago, Robb Seal of Boulder, CO, Meryl Beth (Thomas) Cooper of Arkadelphia, AR, Jamie and McKenzie Carle of Hanau, Germany, John "Jack" Merryman of Minneapolis and a brother Bill (Helen) Lorenzen of Truro, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather and an infant daughter, Susan Ann. Funeral services will be held Friday, September 23, 2005, 2 p.m., Metcalf Mortuary Chapel, 288 W. St. George Blvd., St. George, Utah. Viewings will be held Thursday, September 22, 6-8 p.m. and Friday, September 23, 12:30-1:30 p.m., prior to the services, both at Metcalf Mortuary. Interment will be in the Booneville, IA Cemetery where 16 of Jack's direct ancestors are buried. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to The LDS Family History Center in St. George or The LDS Humanitarian Fund. Originally published September 22, 2005 Ardis Jeppsen Piers ST. GEORGE - Ardis Jeppsen Piers, our beautiful mother, passed away peacefully in her home on Sunday, September 18, 2005. She was born on January 2, 1924, in Roy, Utah to educators Norman Nels and Josie Delores Jeppsen. She spent most of her childhood in Mantua, Utah. She graduated from Box Elder High School and received her associate degree from Weber State College in 1945. She was married to prominent Ogden Architect John L. Piers on March 3, 1945, who was at that time serving in the United States Navy. After his release from the service, they lived in Los Angeles California, where he finished his education at the University of Southern California and they started a family. Returning to Ogden, Utah in 1952, she was an active member in the Ogden Junior League, the Drama Club of Ogden, and the Ogden Golf and Country Club. She worked in the architectural office for all of the years that her husband practiced in Ogden, Utah. Along with many of their Ogden friends, they made St. George/Bloomington their second home. They moved there permanently in 1987. They loved to play golf together and enjoyed the friendships that they made in their retirement. She was a member of the Bloomington Country Club and the Third Ward of the LDS Church. They celebrated their fifty-second wedding anniversary prior to his death in 1997. Ardis is survived by two daughters, Susan Piers Taylor of San Juan Capistrano, CA, and Mary Rae Hunter of Durham, NC. She has five grandchildren, J.B. Taylor, Ashley Taylor Park, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Gretchen Hunter MacIver, John Piers Hunter, and Taylor Gwyn Hunter of Durham, NC. She has two great-granddaughters. She is also survived by her sisters Karma Dixon, Gloria Dyches, Clarice Williams, and Arnell Jeanselme. She is also survived by her brother Jay N. Jeppsen. Ardis Piers loved her family and her friends above all else. She had and independent spirit as well as an avid interest in current events, politics, and finance. From the time that she was a young girl, until she passed away, she was the essence of style and grace. Her smile is unforgettable. There will be a graveside service for family and friends at Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 S. Dixie Dr. in St. George, on Saturday, September 24, 2005 at 11:00 AM. The grave will be dedicated by her grandson, James Bradley Taylor, Jr. Originally published September 22, 2005