Willard Raymond Devitt Obituary
Willard Raymond Devitt, 84, died April 1, 2003, in American Fork.
He was born July 11, 1918, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Ernest Cecil and Bessie Konold Devitt. He married Beth Ellison May 6, 1939, in Kaysville, Utah. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.
He held many positions in the LDS Church, including Bishop of the 4th Ward for five and one-half years, Stake High Council for 16 years, High Priest Group Leader and worked with the youth and coached M Men Basketball. He taught Gospel Doctrine and was Stake Public Affairs Director. He was an ordinance worker in the Provo and Mount Timpanogos LDS Temples from 1985 to 2003.
He was proud to be a "Caveman" for American School. He was also a "Cougar" for BYU, where he played football and basketball. Because of his work ethic, he earned the nickname Willard "The Horse" Devitt. He was involved with the track team and played the tuba in the American Fork High School marching band. During his high school years, he met his sweetheart, Beth, whom he later married.
In 1940-45 he coached sports at Grand County High School in Moab, Utah. He then served in the Armed Forces in 1945 at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he was an Occupational Counselor at Madigan General Hospital for wounded vets returning to civilian life. He then returned to Utah Valley to incorporate a dry cleaning business. He also taught at American Fork High School from 1957 to 1981. He was awarded for being the "Voice of Cavemen Football" for 22 years as an announcer for games.
Because of his love of sports he kept busy all of his life by coaching Bantam Basketball, Little League Baseball and was president of the Little League for one year.
He served as president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and served on the American Fork City Council for two terms. He was chairman of Steel Days for American Fork City.
He is survived by his brother, Russell E. Devitt, Salt Lake City; children: Sharon (Gary) Rackman, Kathleen Millward, Carol (Ernest) Thomas, Christine (Mike) Davis, all of American Fork; Brent (Judy) Devitt, Elko, Nev.; Michael Devitt, Preston, Idaho; Russell (Jeri) Devitt, Alpine; Clint (Jill) Devitt, Keller, Texas; a foster daughter, Isabelle Alexander, Flagstaff, Ariz.; 49 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beth E. Devitt, a daughter, Rebecca Welch, and his parents.
Funeral services will be held Monday, April 7, 2003, at 11 a.m. in the American Fork 4th Ward Chapel. Friends may call at Anderson and Sons Mortuary in American Fork on Sunday, April 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. Also from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the chapel prior to the funeral service. Burial will be in the American Fork City Cemetery.
American Fork Citizen, American Fork, Utah, 03 Apr 2003
Willard Raymond Devitt, 84, died April 1, 2003, in American Fork.
He was born July 11, 1918, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Ernest Cecil and Bessie Konold Devitt. He married Beth Ellison May 6, 1939, in Kaysville, Utah. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.
He held many positions in the LDS Church, including Bishop of the 4th Ward for five and one-half years, Stake High Council for 16 years, High Priest Group Leader and worked with the youth and coached M Men Basketball. He taught Gospel Doctrine and was Stake Public Affairs Director. He was an ordinance worker in the Provo and Mount Timpanogos LDS Temples from 1985 to 2003.
He was proud to be a "Caveman" for American School. He was also a "Cougar" for BYU, where he played football and basketball. Because of his work ethic, he earned the nickname Willard "The Horse" Devitt. He was involved with the track team and played the tuba in the American Fork High School marching band. During his high school years, he met his sweetheart, Beth, whom he later married.
In 1940-45 he coached sports at Grand County High School in Moab, Utah. He then served in the Armed Forces in 1945 at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he was an Occupational Counselor at Madigan General Hospital for wounded vets returning to civilian life. He then returned to Utah Valley to incorporate a dry cleaning business. He also taught at American Fork High School from 1957 to 1981. He was awarded for being the "Voice of Cavemen Football" for 22 years as an announcer for games.
Because of his love of sports he kept busy all of his life by coaching Bantam Basketball, Little League Baseball and was president of the Little League for one year.
He served as president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and served on the American Fork City Council for two terms. He was chairman of Steel Days for American Fork City.
He is survived by his brother, Russell E. Devitt, Salt Lake City; children: Sharon (Gary) Rackman, Kathleen Millward, Carol (Ernest) Thomas, Christine (Mike) Davis, all of American Fork; Brent (Judy) Devitt, Elko, Nev.; Michael Devitt, Preston, Idaho; Russell (Jeri) Devitt, Alpine; Clint (Jill) Devitt, Keller, Texas; a foster daughter, Isabelle Alexander, Flagstaff, Ariz.; 49 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beth E. Devitt, a daughter, Rebecca Welch, and his parents.
Funeral services will be held Monday, April 7, 2003, at 11 a.m. in the American Fork 4th Ward Chapel. Friends may call at Anderson and Sons Mortuary in American Fork on Sunday, April 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. Also from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the chapel prior to the funeral service. Burial will be in the American Fork City Cemetery.
American Fork Citizen, American Fork, Utah, 03 Apr 2003
Willard Raymond Devitt Obituary
Willard Raymond Devitt, 84, died April 1, 2003, in American Fork.
He was born July 11, 1918, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Ernest Cecil and Bessie Konold Devitt. He married Beth Ellison May 6, 1939, in Kaysville, Utah. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.
He held many positions in the LDS Church, including Bishop of the 4th Ward for five and one-half years, Stake High Council for 16 years, High Priest Group Leader and worked with the youth and coached M Men Basketball. He taught Gospel Doctrine and was Stake Public Affairs Director. He was an ordinance worker in the Provo and Mount Timpanogos LDS Temples from 1985 to 2003.
He was proud to be a "Caveman" for American School. He was also a "Cougar" for BYU, where he played football and basketball. Because of his work ethic, he earned the nickname Willard "The Horse" Devitt. He was involved with the track team and played the tuba in the American Fork High School marching band. During his high school years, he met his sweetheart, Beth, whom he later married.
In 1940-45 he coached sports at Grand County High School in Moab, Utah. He then served in the Armed Forces in 1945 at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he was an Occupational Counselor at Madigan General Hospital for wounded vets returning to civilian life. He then returned to Utah Valley to incorporate a dry cleaning business. He also taught at American Fork High School from 1957 to 1981. He was awarded for being the "Voice of Cavemen Football" for 22 years as an announcer for games.
Because of his love of sports he kept busy all of his life by coaching Bantam Basketball, Little League Baseball and was president of the Little League for one year.
He served as president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and served on the American Fork City Council for two terms. He was chairman of Steel Days for American Fork City.
He is survived by his brother, Russell E. Devitt, Salt Lake City; children: Sharon (Gary) Rackman, Kathleen Millward, Carol (Ernest) Thomas, Christine (Mike) Davis, all of American Fork; Brent (Judy) Devitt, Elko, Nev.; Michael Devitt, Preston, Idaho; Russell (Jeri) Devitt, Alpine; Clint (Jill) Devitt, Keller, Texas; a foster daughter, Isabelle Alexander, Flagstaff, Ariz.; 49 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beth E. Devitt, a daughter, Rebecca Welch, and his parents.
Funeral services will be held Monday, April 7, 2003, at 11 a.m. in the American Fork 4th Ward Chapel. Friends may call at Anderson and Sons Mortuary in American Fork on Sunday, April 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. Also from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the chapel prior to the funeral service. Burial will be in the American Fork City Cemetery.
American Fork Citizen, American Fork, Utah, 03 Apr 2003
Willard Raymond Devitt, 84, died April 1, 2003, in American Fork.
He was born July 11, 1918, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Ernest Cecil and Bessie Konold Devitt. He married Beth Ellison May 6, 1939, in Kaysville, Utah. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.
He held many positions in the LDS Church, including Bishop of the 4th Ward for five and one-half years, Stake High Council for 16 years, High Priest Group Leader and worked with the youth and coached M Men Basketball. He taught Gospel Doctrine and was Stake Public Affairs Director. He was an ordinance worker in the Provo and Mount Timpanogos LDS Temples from 1985 to 2003.
He was proud to be a "Caveman" for American School. He was also a "Cougar" for BYU, where he played football and basketball. Because of his work ethic, he earned the nickname Willard "The Horse" Devitt. He was involved with the track team and played the tuba in the American Fork High School marching band. During his high school years, he met his sweetheart, Beth, whom he later married.
In 1940-45 he coached sports at Grand County High School in Moab, Utah. He then served in the Armed Forces in 1945 at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he was an Occupational Counselor at Madigan General Hospital for wounded vets returning to civilian life. He then returned to Utah Valley to incorporate a dry cleaning business. He also taught at American Fork High School from 1957 to 1981. He was awarded for being the "Voice of Cavemen Football" for 22 years as an announcer for games.
Because of his love of sports he kept busy all of his life by coaching Bantam Basketball, Little League Baseball and was president of the Little League for one year.
He served as president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and served on the American Fork City Council for two terms. He was chairman of Steel Days for American Fork City.
He is survived by his brother, Russell E. Devitt, Salt Lake City; children: Sharon (Gary) Rackman, Kathleen Millward, Carol (Ernest) Thomas, Christine (Mike) Davis, all of American Fork; Brent (Judy) Devitt, Elko, Nev.; Michael Devitt, Preston, Idaho; Russell (Jeri) Devitt, Alpine; Clint (Jill) Devitt, Keller, Texas; a foster daughter, Isabelle Alexander, Flagstaff, Ariz.; 49 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beth E. Devitt, a daughter, Rebecca Welch, and his parents.
Funeral services will be held Monday, April 7, 2003, at 11 a.m. in the American Fork 4th Ward Chapel. Friends may call at Anderson and Sons Mortuary in American Fork on Sunday, April 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. Also from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the chapel prior to the funeral service. Burial will be in the American Fork City Cemetery.
American Fork Citizen, American Fork, Utah, 03 Apr 2003
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