Content about Ogden

“I’ve looked at it as a blessing in disguise,”  Gentry Lawson said of being too sick to attend Monday’s Boston Marathon.  Lawson had been excited to compete in the Boston Marathon; it was something on his bucket list that he was really looking forward to.  

 
Connie Porter Murdock
ROY – Connie Murdock, 75, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend of many passed away Friday, April 19, 2013 surrounded by her family.
Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 12:00 noon at the Roy 9th Ward Chapel (4250 S. 2175 W.) The family will meet with friends Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. at the church.
 
Interment will be at the South Morgan Cemetery.

David Farley Carrigan was born in Ogden, Utah on July 12, 1924, to James William Carrigan and Rachel Farley. He was raised on a ranch in Peterson, Utah, the only child of his parents.

 
Marlene Moosman Farr, 80, passed away Sunday, March 3, 2013, in Ogden.

Frank Martin Anderson and Lois Dickson Anderson were married 60 years ago on 10 December 1952. They plan a celebration at a later date.

James Wilson Francis (Jim) quietly left this earthly life on Thursday, Dec. 27 surrounded by his loving family.  As one poet said, “As when a lordly cedar, green with bough, goes down with a great shout upon the hill, and leaves a lonesome place against the sky.”  So it will be with Jim. We will all sorely miss him. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was born in Ogden, Utah on Christmas day, Dec. 25, 1949, to Homer Wilson Francis and Marie Rich Francis. He was raised and educated in Morgan and graduated from Morgan High School where he was involved in the sports programs, especially football.

Melanie and Eric Moore and their family collected over 100 bags of items to be donated to St. Anne’s homeless shelter in Ogden.  They filled a trailer with clothes, books, used and new toys, blankets, gloves, hygiene items, diapers and other types of donations.  “Anything people brought we took,” Melanie explained.  The shelter needs warm items to hand out during the cold months.  They love to have toys to hand out for holidays and birthdays.  The shelter accepts any kind of donation.  St. Anne’s goal is to help individuals and families move into permanent housing, so any items that are not used at the shelter are used to help people when they accomplish that goal.  People are generally moving with no possessions and these items help them get established.   

Sandra Hopkin Peterson, 78, died Friday, Dec. 7, 2012 in Salt Lake.

After two high-profile domestic violence cases have gripped the Morgan community in the past year, efforts to protect victims in abusive relationships are becoming increasingly important.

Thursday, Oct. 25, snow packed roads caused numerous slide-offs on I-84.  Because of the slide-offs, several semis pulled over only to get stuck in the snow on the sidelines.  The road was closed for several hours to allow time for snow removal and clean-up.  

After nearly 25 years on Commercial Street, Morgan Academy of Dance will be changing things up and moving to a new location, 225 East 125 North, next to Riverside Park.  The dance academy has been a part of Morgan for over 40 years.  In that time the dance studio has had plenty of homes.

With their second straight Region 11 win, the Morgan High golfers have tied Bear River for the region lead in overall standings.  Golfing under near-perfect conditions, the Trojans managed a tough Mt. Ogden course Thursday, Sept. 6, and came out in first place.  The eight varsity players that qualified for Morgan were: Seniors - McKay Kearsley, Aaron Babbitt, Jake Miles.  Juniors - Rhett Ballantyne, Garren Miles. Sophomores - Jason Bledsow, Connor Wilson. Freshmen - Braxton Ovard.

Lana Florence Chadburn, born October 13, 1950, to Leonard and Emiline Florence in Ogden, UT passed away peacefully at home September 4, 2012, with her family by her side after an extended struggle with cancer.  She grew up in the high mountain valley of Porterville, UT, was schooled in Morgan, UT and graduated from Clearfield High School.  

The Morgan High golf team continued their Region 11 season Aug. 15, at El Monte golf course in Ogden. The eight varsity players that qualified for Morgan were: Seniors - McKay Kearsley, Aaron Babbitt, Jake Miles, Juniors - Rhett Ballantyne, Garren Miles, Sophomore -Jason Bledsoe, Freshmen - Russell North, Braxton Ovard.

Rebecca Christina Norman and Brock David Bigler will be married on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. 

After attending the grand opening celebration for the new Riverside Park splash pad, I am bursting with pride.  Many people don’t know what a huge undertaking this really was, it was a true labor of love and  the funds used for this project were raised almost entirely by the local community.  

2012 Morgan County Sheriff’s Office reports the following activity for July 1-7, with a total of 157 calls

MORGAN – John Conrad Irwin, Jr., 96, died July 9, 2012 at his home in Morgan, Utah.  He was born Nov. 2, 1915 in Salt Lake City, Utah to John Conrad, Sr., and Eleanor Elizabeth Collett Irwin.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, July 14, 2012 at 11 am at the Rock Chapel, 10 W. Young Street, Morgan. Friends and family may attend a viewing Friday from 6 to 8 at Walker Mortuary in Morgan and Saturday from 9:45 to 10:45 am at the church.

MORGAN - Our Dad, brother, uncle, son and good friend Patrick Allen Alexander (Gomm), 59, passed away on Sunday, June 3, at the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans home from Lewy Body Dementia, after fighting a valiant battle from the disease.

One of summer’s greatest joys is long hot days filled with a dip in the pool.  Cannon balls, splashing children calling out marco polo all bring back floods of memories to most Americans who have experienced a setting similar to this sometime in their life.  Much of our summertime activities revolve around water.  From relaxing on the shore of Pineview, or camping next to a creek in the Uintahs, most of us will come into contact with water.  With extra precaution, these activities can give us a lifetime of memories and a scrapbook full of photos.  

It was a mixture of old and new traditions at the Morgan High School 2012 commencement.  For the first time, the ceremony was held at the Dee Event Center in Ogden.  Graduates were able to have their entire family join in the celebration as they begin this new phase of their lives.  The spacious auditorium offers room to grow for the high school as the years progress, should the school decide to continue ceremonies at the new venue.

Jim Nickerson was a young man in the air force when he met Nell while attending a wedding reception in Morgan.  He was stationed at Hill AFB, which was a long way from his home in Massachusetts.  As stories go, they soon had their own wedding at Nell’s parent’s home in Morgan and lived in their first apartment in Ogden.

Jodi Hipwell currently represents district 1 on the Morgan School Board.  Hipwell has been serving on the board since August of 2011 when she replaced Earl Ericksen who passed away.  Hipwell had previously run against Ericksen in the election.  Hipwell is running in the race with the most candidates in the county.  She will face two opponents in a primary on June 26.  The two other candidates for the School Board in District 1 are Tina Cannon and Lydia Nuttall.  The two candidates with the most votes in the primary will continue on to the general election in November.  

Morgan City has engaged former Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey in a consulting contract to bring a hotel to the city.  The city council has been working for many years to entice a hotel to locate in the city with no results.  They recently completed a feasibility study for the area to help persuade developers to locate in the city.

Abby Jileen Boydstun and Nathan Reed Petersen will be married tomorrow, Saturday, April 21, 2012, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Draper Temple. A reception will follow from 7–9 p.m. at the Morgan Rock Church. 

Morgan started the season March 6 against defending 1A State runner up St. Joseph’s.  Senior Josh Holman found the net to keep the game tied at half time.  But as the snow moved in, the Trojans went cold falling to the Jayhawks 4-1.  The following day, Morgan traveled to Roy to face a powerful 4A team.  The Royals shut Morgan down, winning 8-0.  

Gertrude Evelyn Koemel McEwen, age 86, passed away March 12, 2012 at the home of her daughter in Syracuse, surrounded by all her children.  She was born January 18, 1926 in Robstown, Texas to Walter Adolph Koemel and Clara Wilhelmina Magdalena Steger Koemel.  She married Earl James McEwen, December 2, 1944.  Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.  She and Earl moved with their growing family from Texas to several places in Utah and Idaho settling in Ogden, Utah until moving to Mt. Green, Utah for retirement.  

Lloyd Ralph Warner was the oldest son of Ralph and Kate Warner and he, as the other children, were born in Mountain Green.

2012 Morgan County Sheriff’s Office reports the following activity for January 29th thru February 4th, with a total of 115 calls:

MHS Senior Trojan wrestlers were honored at their final season match last Thursday at Morgan.  

On Saturday, January 7, 2012, an email was sent from the Trapper Trails scout office in Ogden requesting all available scouts in the Trapper Trails Council participate in lining the funeral procession route for fallen Officer Jared Francom. Because Officer Francom was an Eagle Scout himself, having scouts line the route in their uniforms would be a way to help honor him. 

The summer of 1952 Mary Ellen was dating a local boy who was excited to have his older cousin come visit.   The two 20 year olds came up with plans for Harold who was 24 and on leave from the United States Air force.  They wanted to go on a couple of double dates, but the only available girl was only 16 so they decided to have Mary Ellen go out with Harold and the other two would go out together.  The foursome went to a dance at Lagoon, and two weeks to the day later Mary Ellen and Harold were married! The rest was history… 

The family of Frankie Stone, honored her at an 80th birthday dinner at the Olive Garden in Ogden. 

Jim and Ellie Seely got a late start in the marriage department.  Both are native Utahans: Jim was born in Brigham City and Ellie was born in Salt Lake. They met while attending the singles ward in Ogden and knew each other fifteen years before they were engaged and then married.  That was 26 years ago.

2011 Morgan County Sheriff’s Office reports the following activity for November 20-26, with a total of 127 calls:

***JUST A REMINDER THAT THE WINTER PARKING ORDINANCE IS NOW IN EFFECT  …  NOVEMBER 1ST- MARCH 31ST THERE IS NO PARKING ON THE STREETS BETWEEN MIDNIGHT - 6 AM

MORGAN - Grant Alan Wadman, 57, of Morgan returned to his Father in Heaven November 17, 2011.  

Sat. Nov. 5,  Deputy Peay was on the scene for 8 hours to assist in the wrecks that took place on I-84 in the canyon heading west bound. The wrecks happened about 6:30 A.M. when a semi jack knifed on the bridge due to icy road conditions. This caused a chain reaction involving 27 vehicles and 5 semi trucks wrecking.

Our sweet mom passed away October 26, 2011 at the Family Tree Assisted Living in Morgan. She was born October 5, 1924, to Juston Peter and Isabell Robinson Allred in Osgood, Idaho. She grew up in Osgood, graduating from Ammon High School in Idaho Falls.  After graduation, her family moved to Utah, settling in Liberty where she met her husband, Vernon J. Shaw.  They were married October 24, 1943, in Harrisville and later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.

The only presence of Dr. K. Earl Ericksen, this year at the Weber State University Alumni Band Reunion would be through photos, music and in the spirit of reminiscing.

Attending: Chairman Tina Kelley, Members Howard Hansen, Don Mathews, Ronda Kippen, Ned Mecham, Lyle Nelson

Absent: Robert Kilmer (attended by phone for a portion of the meeting)

I am proud to say that our Trojans have been playing like true warriors this year! Last week’s game was hands down amazing with a win to Ogden Tigers at 34 to 0, it qualified them for the Region playoff’s! It is stuff like this that makes me proud to be part of this school, and also brings school spirit and unity! I have come to know most of these boys and WOW! These guys are amazing! They know what it means to be a team, to have each other’s backs, and to be brothers. 

Frank Martin Anderson celebrated his 80th Birthday at a family party on Friday. He was born 7 Oct. 1931 to Wesley V. Anderson and Helen Brown Anderson in Ogden and has been a life-long resident of Milton. 

He was awarded the “Elementary School Medallion” as the outstanding student at age 12. He graduated from Morgan High School and was chosen to attend Boys’ State in 1949. 

Date Time Opponent Score

Wednesday 11/30 7:00PM vs. Juan Diego Catholic High School Soaring Eagles (Endowment game) Event Info

Friday 12/2 1:00pm @ Hurricane High school Tigers Richfield tourmanet Event Info

Hetty Marjorie Pentz Smith, passed away on September 5, 2011, surrounded by her family, on the farm she and her husband worked for over fifty-eight years. Marjorie was born on September 4, 1925, in Stoddard, Utah to Jacob and Ruby Pentz. She grew up in Morgan, Utah, where she graduated from LDS Seminary and Morgan High School in 1943. Marjorie loved riding horses on their family farm, which eventually led to participation in the county fair rodeos, where she enjoyed riding bucking broncs and bareback. She often won the competitions, earning prizes including a saddle and bridle. She even attempted to ride a bull once in the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo, which led to a broken collar bone. She also enjoyed riding her pinto horse in parades, where they performed tricks for the crowd. She worked in the office of the Arsenal and at the Military base in Ogden, UT, and then began work at IBM. She married Eldon Smith in Coalville, Utah on April 4, 1947 and they were later sealed together for eternity in the Cardston Alberta Temple.

Morgan County has a new member of the school board, Jodi Hipwell.  Hipwell is a native of Ogden.  After her marriage to her husband, Carl, they spent seventeen years in the Southeast United States in Arkansas and South and North Carolina.  Hipwell, who has four children, volunteered in schools in each community where  they lived.  “I have seen some of the best schools in the country and I have seen some of the worst schools in the country,” says Hipwell.  She continues, “That gives me a little bit of insight into different types of school systems.”  Her two youngest children both attend Morgan High School presently.

On Saturday July 23rd twenty-nine cowboys and cowgirls from every county in the state of Utah will take center stage at the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo to be honored for their outstanding contribution to the preservation of Utah’s cowboy culture today and for future generations.  The individual selected from Morgan County is Rodney Haslam.

The children and grandchildren of Keith and Faye Donna Little honored their parents and grandparents on Saturday, June 25th in Ogden. They were celebrating Keith and Faye Donna’s 65th wedding anniversary.

Browning has been a significant part of Morgan County since they relocated their headquarters here in 1964.  Many individuals do not know, however, the significance of the contributions of John M. Browning to Utah and United States History.  The Utah legislature is recognizing his significant contributions by designating Jan 24, 2011 as John M. Browning Day.  

Last Thursday January 6, the Morgan High Wrestling team traveled to Ogden to take on the Ben Lomond Scots of Ben Lomond.  Morgan dominated the dual winning 58-12. 

Colleen Butters Follett Geary, 82, passed away peacefully January 5, 2011.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 10, 2011 at 12 noon at the Pleasant View 10th Ward Chapel, 3602 North 500 West in Pleasant View.  Friends and family may call Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Walker Mortuary, 45 West 200 North, Morgan, and Monday from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. at the church in Pleasant View.

Interment at South Morgan Cemetery.

1935
A marriage license was issued Tuesday in Salt Lake City, to Harold Hutchins Francis of this city and Miss Vesta Elaine Snell of Provo.

1930
“A Full House,” the student body play of the Morgan County High School was presented to a full house last Wednesday evening.
The Morgan Community Christmas Tree Program was a huge success last Saturday.

Bruce Galbraith is the Vice President of the school board. He serves from district two. Galbraith ran unopposed in the recent election and was re-elected for a second term of four years.

1930
Unusually Large Snow Fall Sweeps This Section - The season’s first snow storm swept through this weekend leaving about 20 inches of snow.
Misses Lula Barton and Afton Shand were weekend visitors in Salt Lake as guests of Miss Shand’s sister, Beth, at the Beehive House.

Elder Jacob Marshall Nicholas, son of Ruth Nicholas of Morgan, and Kay Nicholas of Ogden, will serve in the New Hampshire, Manchester misson for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Jake will speak at the Morgan 6th Ward at 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, November 14, 2700 South Morgan Valley Drive, Morgan.

1930
Mrs. Eliza Anne Hayes and her husband died within 45 hours of each other.  First Eliza died from a bloody nose, that lasted less than five minutes and was in good health prior to the nose bleed; Her husband Alfred Hayes, who had been in poor health for many years, passed away 45 hours later.

MORGAN - Janice Heaton Fowers, 76, died Monday, October 25, 2010 at Manor Care in Ogden.

Keith Storey of Morgan will be celebrating his 80th birthday with family and friends at a open house given be his children on October 15, 2000  from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Enterprise Stake Center at 2755 N Old Highway Road in Morgan County.

The Morgan County Fair is a 99 year old tradition of the community, and the nearly century old tradition grows and improves with each annual event.  
However, before Morgan had its own fair, the residents of the county joined with the residents of Davis, Weber and Box Elder Counties.  These counties, of the Intermountain Fair Association, met and displayed their exhibits in Ogden City.

   Betty Louise Lane Green, passed away peacefully in the early morning of June 28, 2010 and returned to the arms of her loving Father in Heaven and a glorious reunion with her loved ones that preceded her.

The Morgan County News is spotlighting the new teachers in The Morgan County Schools. This is the second of three weeks of the profiles. We hope you get to know the people that teach your children.