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Show Memorial Services Held Feb. 2nd For Blake Empey Howard Starr, Lifelong Friend, Tells of Fine Qualities of Blake Impressive memorial services were held Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 4:30 p.m., in the St. George stake Tabernacle, honoring First Lieut. Wesley Blake Empey, son of Mrs. Kate B. Empey of this city. He was reported "killed in action", somewhere in the Pacific area of operations, Jan. 16, 1944, just two years to the day from his enlistment. enlist-ment. Bishop Byron H. Taylor of the St. George Center ward presided and conducted the services with Commander Roy Williams of the American Legion, Lester Keate Post No. 90, directing the military mili-tary advance and retiring of the Colors. Mrs. Mae A. Pace presided pre-sided at the organ. Music Numbers Music numbers included a vocal quartet, "Sometime We'll Understand", Under-stand", by Mrs. William E. Baker, Mrs. Howard Starr, Leland Lam-oreaux Lam-oreaux and Ray Garner; violin solo, "Out of the Dusk To You", Mrs. Ellis Everett; vocal duet, "Did You Think To Pray", (which was Lieut. Empey's favorite religious re-ligious hymn), Mrs. Von B. Cot-tam Cot-tam and Mrs. Ray Schmutz; vocal solo, "Oh, My Father", Jos. W. McAllister, Mrs. Harry Pearce at the piano. First speaker was B. Glen Smith of the Dixie junior college, who spoke of Lieut. Empey's school life as he had knowi him, as well as that of his brother, Martyn Lynne Empey, reading several items expressive of their worthwhile achievements, and of his service to his country. ' .... principal speaker was Howard Starr, lifelong friend of the deceased, de-ceased, who told intimately of the family life of Lieut. Empey, the devotion of his mother to her two sons, "Blake and Lynne", who were left in babyhood without a father; of the kind grandmother, Mrs. Alice Bleak, who had cared for the two boys while their mother was at work. He paid tribute to Lieut. Empey as a valiant val-iant soldier who believed in God, loved his family and his friends, an dwith whom he had spent many happy hours since childhood. He told of the paper route which Blake handled efficiently and said Blake and Lynne were among Dixie's best basketball players. He told of their love for each other, their politeness and consideration con-sideration of their mother and grandmother, and of the deceased's de-ceased's eagerness to serve his country. Pres. Harold S. Snow Talks Pres. Harold S. -Snow gave scriptuVal evidence of the eternity of life, and said the Gospel of Christ helps mankind to understand under-stand the value of mortality and immortality and to appreciate the opportunities they have for preparing pre-paring for eternity. He also read part of a sermon on the subject by Apostle Stephen L. Richards and commended the deceased for his sacrifice. Closing remarks were made by Bishop Taylor who thanked all those who are extending comfort and solace to those bereaved. Prayers were by Arthur F. Miles and Bishop Andrew Mc-Arthur, Mc-Arthur, and the floral decorations were in charge of Mrs. Milton E. Moody and Mrs. Howard Judd. Born April 19; 1918, Lieut. Empoy was the son of Martin (Continued on page eight) Empey Memorial Service (Continued from first page) Joseph Empey of Moab, and Kate Bleak Empey of St. George. His father died Feb. 17, 1920, and the family have since resided in St. George, where Blake completed the grade schools, and graduated from Dixie high school and Dixie junior college, where he was active ac-tive in athletics, music and student stu-dent affairs. Enlisted In Jan. 1942 He enlisted in the U. S. Army air corps, Jan. 16, 1942, receiving his primary training at Sequoia Field, Visalia, Calif., his basic training at Minter Field, Calif., and his advanced flying at Luke Field, Phoenix, Ariz., where he graduated July 25, 1943, and left for overseas duty August 24. Although Al-though his mother visited him at Luke Field, he was never given a furlough home. Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Kate B. Empey, one brother, Martyn Lynne Empey, his grandmother, grand-mother, Mrs. Alice Bleak, and his fiancee, Miss Virginia McArthur, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Val McArthur, all of this city. |