Arnold Merrill Alvey

Arnold Alvey

Escalante, Utah

On Tuesday, December 24, 2019 Arnold Merrill Alvey, loving husband and proud father of three daughters, passed away in Panguitch, Utah. Arnold was born in Escalante on December 23, 1928, to Samuel James and Sariah Haws Alvey. He was one of ten children, he was second to the youngest. He married Deon Mecham December 23, 1952 in Richfield. Their marriage was solemnized in the St. George Temple in 1998

If you’re wondering if you may have ever met him, you didn’t (because you would remember). Those of you who did know him, knew that he was a real cowboy in every sense of the word. July 2010, on the National Day of the American Cowboy, Arnold was selected from Garfield County as "Cowboy of the year" honored for his contributions to promoting and preserving the cowboy way of life. People always commented on his beautiful hats and boots, and he always had time to tell a cowboy story, or grab a cup of coffee with a friend. He was friendly and spoke to everyone, had a wonderful sense of humor, and a laugh that was infectious.

Arnold grew up in Escalante, where he lived and worked on the family farm. He loved calf-roping and entered his first rodeo at age 6 (and won!). He graduated from E.H.S., where he played basketball and was always one of the top scorers. He remained a basketball fan and enjoyed watching the Jazz.

In 1950 he was drafted and served as sergeant in the Korean War. He returned to Escalante and ran a restaurant for several years until he went to work as a lineman, which took him throughout the Pacific Northwest. He finally returned to his hometown, where he turned to his love of horses and started a horse-training business. He was also a state brand inspector and served as president of the Escalante Riding Club and a councilman on the town board.

Left to honor and remember Arnold are his wife of 67 years, Deon, of Escalante; children: Janeen (Bradley) Duncan, Loa; Denise (Andy, deceased) Dube, and Raylene (David) Whitefield, both of Las Vegas; in addition to 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by his parents and all his siblings

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 12:00 Noon in the Escalante 2nd Ward Chapel, where friends may call from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Escalante Cemetery with military honors. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com