Tag Archives: Mexico

Hazel Mecham Skousen

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Hazel Mecham Skousen, 83, passed away February 21, 2001 in Orem, Utah.

She was born in Logan, Utah on July 20, 1917 to Lucian M. Mecham Jr. and Sarah Katherine (Katie) Brown Mecham. The family moved to Colonia Juarez, Mexico when Hazel was an infant, and it was there she spent her childhood years and received her early schooling. The family’s next move was to Chandler, Arizona. It was there Hazel finished her schooling and met and married her husband, Karl M Skousen in the Mesa Arizona LDS Temple on September 18, 1934. They moved to Provo, Utah in 1940 and have called the Provo-Orem-Spanish Fork area home since then, even though they have lived in other areas of the country for short periods of time while Hazel’s husband was furthering his education and acquiring additional experience in his profession. Together they have visited all 50 states as well as other countries. Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Melvin, Gerald and Arthur, a son-in-law, David M. Reay, and two great-granddaughters.

She is survived by her husband, two sisters, Veda M. (Bernard) Stewart of Hayward, CA, Katherine (Newell) Barney of Queen Creek, AZ, three sisters-in-law, Ethel M. Dressler of Seal Beach, CA, Naoma Mecham of QueenCreek, AZ, and Alma M. Norris of Talpa, TX. She is also survived by her three children, Vonda Lee S. Reay of San Leandro, CA, Karyle S. (Verd) Rogers of Mesa, AZ, and K. Fred (Julie) Skousen of Provo, 15 grandchildren and 14 spouses, three great-grandchildren and their spouses, 54 additional great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Monday, February 26, 2001, at 9 a.m. in the Suncrest 9th Ward Chapel, 130 North 400 West in Orem. Interment will be in the East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Hazel and Karl M Skousen Accounting Scholarship at BYU Hawaii in care of K. Fred Skousen at Brigham Young University in Provo.

 

Karl M Skousen

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Karl M Skousen 1915 ~ 2009 Karl M Skousen, 93, passed away peacefully on Oct. 9, 2009, at his daughter’s home in Gilbert, Arizona.Karl was born in Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, on December 23, 1915 to James Niels and Emma Fredrika Mortensen Skousen. He was reared in Chandler, AZ, graduating from Chandler High School in 1933. Karl married Hazel Mecham on September 18, 1934. They had two daughters and one son from their happy marriage. After graduating from Brigham Young University in 1944, Karl accepted a commission as an Ensign in U.S. Navy. Upon his release from the service, he settled his family in Utah County. He spent half his professional life in the automobile business, at one time owning Skousen Buick Company in Spanish Fork, Utah. In 1958, he became an accounting professor at BYU, having practiced as a CPA for several years. He then earned a PhD at Michigan State University and taught on the accounting faculty at BYU for the next 23 years. Many students benefitted from his excellent teaching and personal counseling. Karl was always an active member of the LDS Church, serving in many leadership positions, including as a High Councilor and Bishop. Karl and Hazel also served as full-time missionaries for the LDS Church in the Spain Seville Mission. He is survived by two brothers and three sisters as well as by his three children: Vonda S. Reay, Karyle (Verd) Rogers, and K. Fred (Julie) Skousen and a posterity of over 150 descendants. He was preceded in death by his sweetheart, Hazel. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 at the Suncrest 5th Ward (130 N. 400 W., Orem, Utah). Funeral services were held previously in Arizona. Interment will be at the East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery, Provo. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=karl-skousen&pid=134320967#sthash.XtQrOt4N.dpuf

Samuel Keith Bowman

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Samuel Keith Bowman

Samuel Keith Bowman born November 22, 1921, in Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico, the 5th child of Claudious Bowman and Jennie Stark Robinson, passed from this life on May 24, 2010 in Orem, Utah.

He lived a life full of service to his church, family and friends.  In his church service he served in many capacities to include service as a missionary in the Mexican mission as well as service in the Aaronic Priesthood Organization, Stake Missionary, High Councilor, Branch President, Bishop, and District President to the Tarahumara mountain territory under the Chihuahua Mexico Mission Presidency. He served as sealer in the Colonia Juárez México Temple and as a Patriarch in the Colonia Dublán, Chihuahua Stake for 15 years and most recently for 2 years in the Queen Creek, Arizona Stake.  He has served selflessly, tirelessly and lovingly and touched the lives of many people.

He is survived by his sweetheart of 64 years Mary Naoma Haynie and his nine children and their spouses, Keith LaRae Bowman and Charleen Cluff, Mary Eva Bowman Kvamme and James Douglas Kvamme, Naoma Susann Bowman Wagner and James Spencer Wagner, Samuel Kent Bowman and Marian Louise Stevens, Nancy Jenene Bowman, Patrick Tracy Bowman and Cathy Bonner, Karl Henry Bowman and Shauna Momberger, Claudia Ann Bowman Nelson and David Wayne Nelson and Anthony Esaias Bowman and Rosalee Ann Egbert.  Survived also by 35 grandchildren and 47 great grandchildren.  He is survived by his brothers Bardell Robinson Bowman, Donn Seymour Bowman and Maurice Dwight Bowman.  He is very loved and respected and his guidance will be missed. 

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at 56 East 600 North, Lindon, Utah. Viewings will be held Friday, May 28, 2010 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Olpin Family Mortuary, 494 South 300 East, Pleasant Grove and from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. prior to services on Saturday.  Interment will be in the Lindon City Cemetery 550 North 200 East, Lindon. 

Moroni Taylor Abegg

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Moroni Taylor Abegg

July 16, 2003, Moroni Taylor Abegg, our noble and valiant patriarch, peacefully passed away in the arms of his sweetheart Patricia following complications from cancer.

Taylor was born on July 4, 1923 in Colonia Dublan, Chih., Mexico to Moroni Lehi Abegg and Rinda Taylor. After graduating from Juarez Stake Academy in 1941, Taylor attended BYU where he was voted freshman president and preferred man. There he met Patricia Flora Ann Terry and married in the Salt Lake Temple May 27, 1944. Taylor served in the US Army during World War II and Reserves for 10 years.

After completing his Doctorate at the U of U in Fuel Technology and Physical Chemistry, he worked for Lawrence Livermore Labs in CA. Five years later, he moved his family to Albuq., NM and worked for Sandia Labs for 11 years where he was responsible for 14 patents. He then moved to Salt Lake City, UT.

LDS callings included: Stake High Councilor, Bishop and Counselor, Stake President and Regional Representative. He served selflessly and was steadfast in his testimony of Jesus Christ.

Survived by his wife Patricia of 59 years and eight children: Patricia (Daron) Ockey, Pamela Nemelka, Wendy (Mark) Ciccetti, Rinda (Rafe) Black, M. Taylor (Marie) Abegg II, Sherman (Joy) Abegg, Marjorie (Scott) Cartwright and Norman (Melissa) Abegg; 40 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and his sister Hannah Louise (John) Clarke.

Funeral services will be held Monday, July 21, 2003 at 12 Noon at the Ensign 5th Ward, 580 18th Ave., Salt Lake City. Viewing held Sunday evening from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. So. Temple and Monday at the Ward 10:30-11:45 a.m. Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery.

T.C. Christensen on Testimonies and Adoption

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Last night (February 23) my daughter and I attended a fireside where Mormon film maker T.C. Christensen was the featured speaker. Christensen showed clips of his films and then explained interesting anecdotes that happened behind the scenes as they were filmed. He showed a clip from Ephraim’s Rescue that showed the handcart pioneers crossing a frigid river. T.C. discussed the scene and then opened it up to the audience for Q&A.

After a few questions, he said, “I haven’t been asked a question yet that I usually get. The question I’m usually asked is Why did God put these faithful handcart pioneers through this ordeal?”

T.C. then asked any descendants of the Martin and Wille handcart companies, and the Hunt and Hodges wagon companies to please stand. A large number stood. He said, “Thank you, you can sit down now.” He went on to say that he asks this question at many firesides around the Wasatch Front and gets similar numbers standing for crowds of this size.

He then related how he spoke at an LDS youth event in Hemet, California, Before the meeting started he thought that it wouldn’t be fair to ask that question in a place so far from the Salt Lake Valley, but during the course of his talk he asked the same question and was amazed by the results. T.C. said that there were more people who stood at that event that had just stood at our fireside with only one-third the number in attendance.

His point in this exercise was that his belief at to why the Lord put these faithful saints through this trial, “Why weren’t they given manna to eat?”

“There was something that happened within those people that drove testimony into their hearts,” he said. “They were able to pass that on to their children and their descendants.” T.C. also said that even those members who aren’t the descendants of the handcart pioneers are “adopted” descendants. “A women being baptized in Chile today can count these pioneers as her ancestors,” he said.

It is funny because I feel the same way about the Mormon Colonies pioneers. After the first Las Colonias magazine issue release I had someone email me asking to be taken off the list because he had no ancestors from the Colonies (I happen to know that his wife does). I thought to myself, “I don’t have ancestors from the Colonies either, but my kids do.”

This is why I want to share the stories and histories of the Colonies pioneers. Not only do my daughters need to have their Colonies ancestor’s testimonies burned into their hearts, but as an adopted son — I do too.

Lavinia Bentley Jackson

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1903 – 1998

Lavinia Bentley Jackson passed away quietly on the morning of January 23, 1998, in American Fork, Utah with her daughter, Velma Keith, at her side.

She was born December 17, 1903 in Colonial Juarez, Mexico, to Maud Mary Taylor Bentley and Joseph Charles Bentley. She was raised in the Mormon Colonies in Mexico, the oldest of eight children. Lavinia graduated from the Juarez Academy in 1923 and attended one year of college at Brigham Young University. She married Armond Lorenzo Jackson, on June 11, 1924, in the Salt Lake Temple. They had been sweethearts since the third grade. Armond passed away nine years ago in December of 1988.Their five living children are Armond (Dorothy) Jackson of El Paso, Texas; Harold (Betty) Jackson of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Velma (Wayne) Keith of Lindon, Utah; Robert (Anabel) Jackson of Provo, Utah; Dwight (Karen) Jackson of Danville, California. She is also survived by her youngest sister, Lucy Ann Priest. Her additional posterity currently consists of 22 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Lavinia was a faithful, supportive wife and a loving mother. She taught piano lessons, served as PTA president, and assisted her husband with his farm work. She opened her home to friends and strangers alike. In addition, she was a dedicated and tireless church worker, as evidenced by her fifteen years of service as Stake Relief Society President in El Paso, Texas. When she was in her seventies she served as Primary Nursery Leader. More recently she assisted in Primary as a greeter and friend to all the children. She loved and appreciated the good in all she met. That love was reciprocated. She became known as `Aunt Lavinia’ to countless people. Her descendants treasure unnumbered memories of her sweetness and cheery disposition. She truly has been our `angel mother.’

A viewing for family and friends will be held at Olpin Family Mortuary, 494 South 300 East in Pleasant Grove, Utah from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 1998. Funeral services will be held in El Paso, Texas, at the Fifth Ward Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 400 Rosemont Drive at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 31, 1998. She will be interred at Memory Gardens of the Valley Cemetery, 4900 McNutt Road, El Paso, Texas.

Lucille Romney Painter

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1907 – 2006

WEST JORDAN, UT — On January 27, 2006, Lucille Romney Painter, 98, passed away at her daughter’s home in West Jordan, Utah, from causes incident to aging.

Lucille was born July 17, 1907, in Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico (one of the Mormon colonies) to Thomas Cottam and Lydia Ann Naegle Romney. Lucille met all of life’s challenges with a“this is how things are so deal with it” attitude. She graduated from Brigham Young Academy, now University, with a degree in physical education. She taught school one year in Cleveland, Utah, and then married Jay Edward Painter August 30, 1929 in the Salt Lake Temple.

She served faithfully in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all her life, treasuring her time in the Idaho Falls Temple the most. Lucille loved flowers and worked unceasingly in her garden. She sewed, knitted, crocheted, and cooked for her family, friends, and neighbors. The best example of “charity never faileth,” she was always concerned with the comfort of others.

Lucille is survived by two sons: Melvin Jay (wife, Bonita) Painter of Blackfoot, Idaho, and Reed Romney (wife, Joan) Painter of Idaho Falls, Idaho, a daughter-in-law, Shirley Painter of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, and a daughter Diane Painter (husband, Glenn) Tree of West Jordan, Utah. Her only surviving sibling is Genevieve Moulton of Bountiful, Utah. She also has 19 grandchildren, 49 great grandchildren and 5 great, great grandchildren

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jay Edward Painter, to whom she was married for over 66 years and two sons: Thomas Mark Painter and Richard Keith Painter.

Lucille will be greatly missed and long remembered. How fortunate we have been to share our lives with her.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 2, 2006, at the Jordan Oaks LDS 7th Ward, 8825 South 3200 West, Salt Lake. Friends and family may call Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley, 1007 West South Jordan Parkway (10600 South).

A Viewing will be held Friday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, 273 North Ridge Ave, Idaho Falls. Graveside Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 4, 2006, at Fielding Memorial Park.

G. Heber James

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1910 – 2006

G. Heber James, 95, left his mortal existence on July 2, 2006. Heber was born in the Mormon Colonies in Colonia Pacheco Mexico on September 24, 1910. His parents were George Heber James and Sarah Nelson. Heber’s father died one month prior to his birth. He then went with his mother and older sister, Vinetta, to Thatcher, Ariz., where he was raised until he moved to Phoenix in 1930. Heber was preceded in death by his wife of over 70 years, Norma Morris, and their daughter Jacalyn Sue. Heber outlived all of his siblings and countless friends and relatives. He owned and operated Nelson Electric Company, a supplier of Kohler generators and engines, for close to 50 years. He was self-taught in all his endeavors. Heber could build and repair anything and everything. He was a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is survived by his son Gerald (Quola), and daughters Janet Morrison (Reed), Judi Ronnow, Joyce Williams (Gene), Jeanne Despain (Allan), Josephine Foutz (Don), 32 grandchildren, 102 great-grandchildren and 24 great-great-grandchildren. Please join us for a celebration of Heber’s life on Saturday, July 8, at the Glendale Stake Center, 8602 N. 31st Ave., 11 a.m. Viewing 10 a.m. Interment on Monday, July 10, 2006, at Thatcher City Cemetery. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/eastvalleytribune/obituary.aspx?n=g-heber-james&pid=18372930&fhid=2950#sthash.ayTKhzVL.dpuf

Joseph Lavon Williams

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1923-2012

Joseph LaVon Williams, 89, passed away August 7, 2012 in Arco, Idaho.

He was born on May 13, 1923 in the Mormon Colonies of Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico. He was the oldest son of Joseph F and Evelena Spencer Williams and was called “LaVon” by his family and “Joe” by his friends and co-workers

In 1929, his family left Mexico and moved to Arizona, Utah, and Oregon, and then back to Utah attending school in the places they lived. He attended high school in Vale, OR and Provo, UT often quitting school to work to help support the family. He received his high school diploma from Provo High School in May 1944 while serving in the US Navy.

He met his wife of 67 years, Betty Iverson McVey, in 1942 when both of them were traveling on a Greyhound bus. He gave her his number with the promise of a call when both returned to Utah after the holidays. They were married on March 23, 1945 in the Salt Lake City Temple during WWII while he was home on a 15-day leave.

His naval service during WWII (1943-1945) was in both the European and Pacific Theatre of War. He attended training in San Diego, CA and Norfolk, VA and was a Torpedoman’s Mate Third Class aboard the USS Hobson (DD-424) Destroyer and USS Charles F. Hughes (DD-428) Destroyer. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, in Normandy France, his ship at Utah Beach fired at German shore batteries and rescued survivors from the water. September 2, 1945, his ship in Tokyo Bay, listened to the broadcast of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender. He received an Honorable Discharge November 27, 1945 and returned home meeting his bride, Betty, in Utah to finally start their lives together.

Joe had careers in farming, ranching and construction. His first construction job, at age 18, was at the Geneva Steel Mill in Utah. He worked as a Journeyman Carpenter and Journeyman Millwright and retired as a Journeyman Pipefitter in 1983. The majority of his construction work was at the Site in the Arco Desert. Work also took him to Montana, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, and Oregon, and then to Alaska during the pipeline days, working as foreman to build Pump Station #5 near Jim River and jobs at Prudhoe Bay. Betty and Joe moved to the Lost River Valley in 1954 and have maintained a home there for the last 58 years.

Joe was a Lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars – Post 7137 (serving since 1961) He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints serving with Betty as a Home-teacher, Scout Merit badge counselor, Idaho Falls Temple worker, Stake Missionary and Welcome Greeters at the door. He enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting and sailing. His favorite past time was going for a ride, always taking the back roads looking for mushrooms, watercress, berries, wildlife and swimming holes to enjoy with his family. When possible he attended his children’s and grandchildren many activities right up to the last months of his life.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Lue: children: Barry (Camille) of Anchorage, AK; Spencer (Valorie) Twin Falls, ID; Michael (Dorothy) Moore, ID: Tim (Ardith) Arco, ID; Susan Fuger (Don) Pocatello, ID: Joseph (Deena) Hurricane, UT; Lucy Rojas (Tony) Moore, ID; sister’s Josie Rowley, Cedar City, UT; Velma Skidmore, Manhattan, KS; Elva Barnhart Atomic City, ID; 35 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his daughter, Amanda Eunice, his parents, 5 sisters, and 3 brothers. What a grand reunion they are having!

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Aug 18, 2012 at 1 pm at the Arco LDS Church with a viewing one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery in Arco with Military rites. A viewing will also be held at the Lost River Funeral Home, 345 Sunset Dr. in Arco, Idaho on Friday evening, August 17, 2012 from 7-9 pm.

Lemuel Michael Flores

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Lemuel M Flores

1917-2013

Lemuel Michael Flores, 95, passed away peacefully on the morning of June 8, 2013, surrounded by his family at the home that he built in Bountiful, Utah. He was born on September 29, 1917 in San Buenaventura, Chihuahua, Mexico to Vicente Ruiz Flores and Severa Carbajal Flores. He was raised in Colonia Dublán, Chihuahua, one of the Mormon colonies in Mexico, and he served a full-time mission to Mexico City. He was a veteran of World War II, serving honorably in the United States Army, 5th Air Force, from September 1944 to October 1946. He married Josephine Decker for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on October 10, 1957. Lem cherished his family and valued hard work above all other pursuits. He was a successful businessman and a master craftsman with a gift for finish carpentry and woodworking. Lem enjoyed singing songs in Spanish and English, talking to people and telling stories, and sharing quotable sayings and other pearls of wisdom. As a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he humbly served and followed the Lord throughout his life, with quiet dignity and without fanfare. He will always be remembered as a man of integrity, loyalty, kindness, and good humor.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Josephine; his children David (Jean) Flores of Salt Lake City, Utah and Daniel (Shannon) Flores of Los Angeles, California; his children from a previous marriage, Michael (Barbie) Flores of Hacienda Heights, California and Teri (Brick) Freedland of Wildomar, California; his ten grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren; and his siblings Bengala (Marvin, deceased) Baird of Grantsville, Utah and Rey Flores of Mesa, Arizona. He was preceded in death by two sisters and three brothers.

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Bountiful Utah Orchard Stake Center, 3599 South Orchard Drive, Bountiful Utah. A graveside service will be held at Bountiful City Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 13, 2013