Society Page 3 The Gunnison Valley Gazette Thursday, November 9, 2006 Obituaries Max A. Simonsen Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend, Max A. Simonsen, 85, of Manti, Utah, passed away peacefully at his home October 30, 2006, surrounded by his loving familyHe was born April 7, 1921, to Archie Beal and Flossie Irene Broderick Simonsen, in Emery, Utah. He married Iona McLaren, December 20, 1955, in Elko, Nevada. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple. In his lifetime he was a baker, cabinet builder and for many years a sheep herder. He honorably served in the Army and Air Force during 1942 to 1945. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, lone, Manti; children, Linda (Owen) Wilmot, ID; Karen (Brent) Hansen, Centerfield; Janice (Larry) Jensen, LaVerkin; Archie (Jan) Simonsen, Manti; Connie (Troy) Miller, Fairview; 27 grandchildren; and 33 great-grandchildren; sisters, Allene Christiansen, SLC; Lucine Young, Phoenix, AZ. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Bonnie Jean; parents; brothers, Morris (Norma) Simonsen and Keith Si- Jack Arden Christensen 1927-2006 Jack Arden Christensen, 79, passed away on November 5, 2006. Jack, the son of Angus Arden and Affalone Christena Madsen Christensen, was born in Gunnison, Utah, on September 24, 1927. At an early age he developed a deep love for music, theater and dance - three art forms which gave him much pleasure throughout his life. He received his early education in the Gunnison Valley Schools and graduated with honors in monsen; sisters, Melba (Clyde) 1945. Jack enrolled at BYU Funk and Beverly (Billy) Rich; and graduated in 1950 with brothers-in-law, Clyde Young a major in speech and drama and a minor in English. Durand Chris Christiansen. Fune'ral services will be ing his years' at BYU, he apheld on Thursday, November 2, peared in numerous theatrical 2006, at 11 a.m. in the Manti productions, was a member of 3rd Ward LDS Tabernacle, 96 the Theta Alpha Phi, a national dramatic society; Orchesis, South Main, Manti, Utah. the BYU Modern Dance Club; Friends may call at the and Blue Keys a national hontabernacle in Manti on Thursorary service fraternity. Durday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 ing the summer, he traveled a.m. Burial will be in the Manti as a vocalist with a Salt Lake City Cemetery with Military City dance band. After graduRites by the Manti American ation he taught speech and Legion Post #31. English at South Cache High Funeral Directors: Magle- School, Gooding High School in by Mortuary, Richfield, Salina Gooding, Idaho, then in Davis .and Manti. Online guestbook County during which time he at www.maglebymortuary.com received his Master's Degree in drama and anthropology from the University of Utah. In 1956, he began teaching at Bryant Junior High where he taught Richfield, Utah - Minnie for two years before joining the Rose Kendall Sorensen died faculty of East High where he Wednesday, November 1, 2006 remained until his retirement in Richfield, Utah at the age of in 1982. His first teaching as80. She was born November signment at East High was 24,1925 in London, England, a speech and drama; but after daughter of Ernest Edward and two years he began teaching Minnie Rose Lovell Kendall. English - first, Sophomore EngShe lived through the bombings lish and later, Senior College of London during World War Preparatory English. He also served as chairman of the East 11, and often recalled air raids School English Department during which she found shelter and as President of the Utah in the Underground. During Council of Teachers of Engthe war, she met Chris Glaine lish. In 1962, he was assigned Sorensen, an American soldier as creative writing instructor, serving in Europe. Rose and an assignment which gave him Chris were married September 12, 1944, and she followed him and 4 brothers, as well as nu- great satisfaction through the to America -- a war bride sail- merous * grandchildren and years as he saw his creative writing program expand from ing on the Queen Mary with a great-grandchildren. baby in her arms and another She was preceded in death one to three years. During the on the way. The couple honey- by her oldest son, John G: first year of teaching creative mooned at the Hotel Utah in Sorensen and two grandchil- writing, his students won more awards that any other high Salt Lake City. dren. Funeral services will be school in the nation in the Rose lived most of her life in Centerfield, raising seven held Saturday, November 4, prestigious Scholastic Magasons. She worked as a cook at 2006 at 11 a.m. in the Springer zine Writing Contest. From the Wisteria Cafe" in Gunnison, Turner Funeral Home Cha- then until his retirement, his and as a nurses' aid and house- pel, 260 North 400 West, in students continued to receive keeper at the Mayfield Manor Richfield, where friends may local and national awards in in Mayfield. Chris died Janu- call for viewing Saturday their writing. A number went ary 9, 1982. Rose moved to morning one hour prior to the on to become professional writservices. At her request, Rose's ers. It was also during his first Richfield in the early 1990's. year of teaching creative writRose is survived by six of remains will be cremated and ing that he began a tradition her sons: Chris E. Sorensen burial will take place in the that still exists at East - "Take of Spanish Fork; David and Centerfield Cemetery beside Five" which is the performance Larene Sorensen of South Jor- her loving husband, Chris. of five student plays written, dan; Michael Sorensen, KendThe family thanks the staff produced, directed, and acted all Sorensen, Paul and Daisy of the Richfield Care Center for entirely,by the students. EvenSorensen, all of Richfield; Ste- their help in Rose's final days. tually, the drama department phen and Dana Sorensen of On line guest book at: joined the team and through Sigurd; along with 9 sisters www.springerturner.com the years more than 200 original plays have been produced. Rose Sorensen Theda Byrel Clayton Our beloved Mother and Grandmother, Theda Byrel Clayton, 85, Mayfield, Utah, passed away November 2, 2006 in Richfield. She was born February 13, 1921, in Mayfield, Utah, to Thomas H. and Aurelia Larson Clayton. She married Verl Leroy Fowles in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1935. They later divorced and he passed away in 1975. She later married Jay Clayton in Elko, Nevada, in 1959. He preceded her in death in 1960. Byrel loved serving her community, especially the elderly and would make gifts which she would pass out every holiday. Her joyful spirit will be missed throughout the community and by her friends and family. She enjoyed nature, camping, traveling, trains, dolls and cats. She is survived by her children, Theda (Bill) Bess, Otis, OR; Evelyn Flynn, Elko, NV; Verl Fowles, Provo; Paul Fowles, Provo; Robert (Lorna) Fowles, Provo; Jay Clayton, Mayfield; and numerous grand and great-grandchildren. At her request, Byrel has been cremated and a family service will be held at a later date. If you wish to express. your condolences, please donate a small gift or a little time to the elderly. Funeral Directors :Magleby Mortuary Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com Jack believed that to be a successful writing instructor, he, himself, should also be a successful writer. He wrote and published numerous short stories before he undertook his first major writing project. He felt that the students should have a textbook for reference; and, because there were no high school creative writing books available, he wrote the first high school creative writing text published in the United States. Finding more pleasure in writing poems that short stories, he began the serious study of poetry. Through the years, he published a large number of poems - including four books of poetry - and won numerous awards $uch as the "Diploma de Benemerenza" awarded to him by Centro Studi e Scambi Internazionale in Rome for his contribution to international poetry. In 1969, he was named "Utah Poet of the Year" by the Utah Poetry Society which published a book of his poetry. He later became Associate Editor of "Media and Methods" an educational publication and was also asked to co-author a series of high school English textbooks which became the best selling high school English text in this country. In 1979, he way named one of three foremost high school creative writing teachers in the United States by Scholastic , Magazine and by Smith-Corona. During this time, he was also active in University of Utah and community theater and modern dance. Because of an interest in Asian Culture, Jack developed an Asian Studies class - the only one in a Utah high school. To further his own interests in Asia - particularly in Japan - he studied the Japanese Tfa Ceremony, for seven years and was the first American student licensed to study the Tea Ceremony of Sohen Ryu, an ancient tea school headquartered in Kamakura, Japan. For live years he was an assistant to the Reverend of the Nichiren Shu Temple and was asked by the American Leaders of the church to write a biography of Nichiren Shonin, founder of the church for and international celebration. The book was published in Tokyo. In addition to this book, he wrote on Chinese and Japanese cut-art. In 1982,illness forced Jack into early retirement. Limited in what he could do, he undertook the study of heraldry, designing and painting coatsof-arms. He became a member of the American College of Heraldry, was accepted as a life member of The Hereditary Order of Armigerous Augustans and was, for some time, a member of Societas Heraldica Scandinavica headquartered in Denmark. He also began to design and create jewelry which, as with many of his projects, received world-wide circulation. Jack is survived by his mother; one brother, David (Shirlene) and his life-long friend and companion, Henry NeaJ Ivie; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Ho was preceded in death by his father, a brother, Teddy and sister, Linda. Graveside Services will be held on Wednesday. November 8, 2006 at 12 Noon in the Gunnison City Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com The family of Max A. Simonsen would like to thank everyone for all of their thoughtfulness, kindness and prayers that have been given at a time when we greatly needed it. We appreciate the beautiful flowers and the food that was brought into the home. A special thanks to Lori Miller and her nurses and aides from At-Home Health Care for their loving care of dad the past year, and during the past few weeks which have been so difficult. We appreciate their support and loving care given to dad. Thanks to Bishop Stillson and Bishop Keisel for their prayers in dad's and our family's behalf. Thank you to Manti Relief Society for the beautiful lunch they provided for the family. Thanks to Lee Barton and Bruce Bown for their friendship and for their help with the funeral program. A big thank you to Magleby-Jensen Funeral Home for helping us with all the arrangements and paper work that goes along with a funeral. They have been very helpful and kind. >:wy.j Mellor - Peterson Natalie Mellor and Michael Peterson have chosen Saturday, November 11, 2006 to start their lives together. They will be honored at a reception that evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Fayetto Church, 100 South 100 East, Fayette. Natalie is the daughter of Kelly and Lynette Mellor and granddaughter of Theima Mellor of Fayette. Natalie is a 2005 graduate of Gunnison High School arv1 received her cosmetology licence that same year. Michael is the son of Bill ann Lora Peterson of •Uichfk-Id. Michael graduated from Richfield High School in 2002 and went on to Westminister College in Salt Lake City. If we inadvertently missed getting you an invitation, please accept our apologies and consider this yours. Elder ChadAveni Elder Chad Avery has accepted a call to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of" Latter-day Saints in the Mexico Tuxtla-Gulierrez Mission, lie will enter the MTO on November 15, 2006. Elder Avery will be speaking in the Ciunni.-son 2nd Ward No\ ember 12th at 9:30 a.m. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to everyone that has been a part of my campaign. Rick Howe GUNNISON STAKE SINGLES DINNER & PROGRAM November 9 ,; . 6 p.m. Ceriterfie.id Church , ,y, v ...(Please bring your own dishes). o/ttgage Specializing in all types of Mortgage Loans* Now Purchases * Refinances * Second Mortgages * Construction Loans Credit Problems? We can kelp! A-DCredit Ashley Roberts Home 435-529-4180 Cell 435-201-2753 -Licensed Loan OfficerMokiqaqp. Honest, Dependable, Hometown Seivice 187 South Main, Gunnison • 435-528-5878