John D. Tovey, Sr., 70, of Malad City, Idaho, passed away Monday, July 23, 2001, in the Oneida County Hospital.
He was born January 14, 1931, .in Malad, a son of Morgan William Sr. and Gwehfred Jones Tovey. He was raised and educated in Malad and graduated from Malad High School in 1949, where he excelled in athletics.
John D. attended the University of Idaho for three years before enlisting in the United States Army on August 20, 1952. After basic training at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, he was sent to board a troop carrier in San Francisco en route to Korea by way of Japan. John D. was assigned to the 707 Ordinance Battalion, which was stationed north of the 38th Parallel. John D. was promoted to Corporal, then Sergeant and then Sergeant First Class in the first three months. He was assigned Sergeant Major two weeks later and served as Battalion Sergeant Major over the two company headquarters consisting of over 250 men. John D. was assigned as S-l in charge of Personnel and Intelligence for the last six months of his stay.
Upon his return, he finished college at the University of Idaho, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture in 1956. John D. returned to Malad where he worked with his father on the family farm, periodically teaching at local schools.
In 1958, he met Myrna Williams, a nurse stationed in Malad awaiting Army Nurse Corps orders. He proposed on the first date and they were married in Elko, Nevada, on March 31, 1958.
John D. worked the family farm for his entire life with a short career with Jones Hardware as a Farm Implement Salesman. In the early 70’s, John D. became an equity investor in Oneida Manufacturing producing a variety of heavy plastic products. During the 80’s, John D. entered a partnership owning and running two bands of sheep. He has been semi-retired for the past 5 years.
John D. was a member of the Ernest W. Jones Legion Post, the Masonic Lodge, and the Elks’ Lodge. He held many posts within these organizations. He was a Di-rector for the former First Bank and Trust from 1974 to 1985. He served as the Oneida County Republican Party Chairman throughout the 60’s and 70’s. He ran an unsuccessful campaign for the State Senate in 1962.
John D. loved hunting through-out his life, taking hunting excursions to many parts of the West. He enjoyed following the athletic events of his three sons, rarely missing so much as a practice track meet. In later years, he loved travelling to visit his sons in Oregon where he gambled with mixed success. He looked forward to the Saturday Night Bingo sessions at the American Legion Hall.
John D. is survived by his loving wife, Myrna Williams Tovey, Malad; three sons, J. David, Jr., William Douglas (Buffy), and Allen Joseph (Wendy), all of Pendleton, Oregon; one grandson, J.D. Tovey III, Moscow, Idaho; four step-grandchildren, Jessica, Gavin, Kyle and Ellynn, Pendleton, Oregon; two brothers, Morgan W., Jr., Beaverton, Oregon and Roger (Colleen), Roseville, California; two sisters, Winifred (Cecil) Alldaffer, Soda Springs, Idaho, and Mary Sue Borden, Gooding, Idaho. He was preceded in death by his parents and a younger brother, Cleve Tovey.
Funeral services were held Friday, July 27, 2001, at the L.D.S. Second Ward Chapel. Burial was in the Malad City Cemetery with military honors accorded by the American Legion post #65.

In Loving Memory of John David Tovey

Family Prayer Morgan W. Tovey Jr. (brother)
Prelude & Postlude Myra Jean John

Born January 14, 1931 – Malad City, Idaho Died July 23, 2001 – Malad City, Idaho
Funeral Service Friday July 27, 2001 – 12 Noon Malad 2nd L. D. S. Ward Chapel Reverend Helen Young , Officiating
Casket Bearers
Brent Thompson John Chess Jim Wallis Morgan W. Tovey III
Honorary Bearers Reed Facer Don S. Evans LaVoy Albertson Jerry Weathers
Invocation Reverend Helen Young
Life Sketch Ross Borden (nephew)
Vocal Solo “The Lord’s Prayer”
by Mark Alder – accompanied by Myra Jean John
Speaker Morgan W. Tovey Jr. (brother)
Speaker Dr. Stephen Johnson
Vocal Solo “Goin’ Home”
by Foster Ipsen – accompanied by Myra Jean John
Remarks & Benediction Reverend Helen Young
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Concluding Service – Malad City Cemetery
Dedicatory Prayer Dale Reese
Military Rites American Legion, Post # 65