Gene Val Hyatt
September 2, 1933 — October 25, 2012
Gene Val Hyatt
Gunnison, Utah
Gene Val Hyatt, 79, passed away at his home in Gunnison, Thursday, October 25, 2012. Dad was born September 2, 1933 in Clarion, Utah to Lancelot Newberry and Annie Adella Decker Hyatt. He was the youngest of nine children and worked with his father and brothers on the family farm.
Shortly after graduating high school, Dad married Marlene Ollerton on May 25, 1951. Dad and Marlene had one son during their marriage. They were later divorced and Dad joined the Army doing road construction, working on the Alaskan Highway with good friends, Harvey Croft and Donald Follett. Upon his discharge, Dad met Vivian Carol Jones on a blind date while attending Snow College in Ephraim. They married October 23, 1959 in the Manti LDS Temple and had eight children over the next sixteen years.
Farming was in Dad’s blood. Shortly after Mom and Dad were married, they bought a piece of land east of Gunnison. They lived on and cultivated the land, growing kids and corn (among other things), until he passed away 50 years later. It was on the farm that he taught his kids to work. And work. And work. Dad was not a perfect man, but he was honest, generous, and dedicated his life to providing for his family. Dad was always in the service of others. There were no hitchhikers within a 20-mile radius that had to walk too far before Dad picked them up and helped them along their way. We, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are proud and honored to be a part of his legacy.
Dad is survived by four sons and five daughters: Johnny Dee (Beverly) Hyatt, Henderson, NV; Rodney Gene (Janelle) Hyatt, Ogden; Sherry Kaye (John) Lippmann, Clearfield; Diana Carol (Troy) Lambertsen, Salina; Steven Howard (Angela) Hyatt, Centerfield; Lora Lee (Shane) Stratton, Centerfield; Trudi Lyn Stratton (Jim Kunz), Gunnison; Marie Della (Neil) Erickson, Woods Cross; and Robert Lance (Heidi) Hyatt, Mendon; 35½ grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Cameron Russell Hyatt; brothers and sisters: LaVell Hyatt, Morlan L. Hyatt, Boyd Elmo Hyatt, Dearrel Decker Hyatt, Lucy Elvona Hyatt Busalachi and Lance LeRoy Hyatt.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 2, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. in the Gunnison Stake Center, 80 West Center. Friends may call at the stake center in Gunnison, Thursday from 6-8 p.m. and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Gunnison City Cemetery with military rites by the Gunnison American Legion Post #104. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations be made to the National Military Family Association at