ARNOLD RAY NORTH
Arnold Ray North, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away early Thursday morning, August 31, at the age of 86.
He was born February 5, 1914 in Plainview, Nebraska, the oldest son of Robert ‘C’ and Bessie Leah Pearson North. He attended Plainview High School and worked on the family farm.
During his early adult life he served in the Civil Conservation Corps, working in the national forests building roads, bridges, firebreaks, and look-out towers in the timber country of Oregon.
He loved the great outdoors and the native forests of the Northwest. He always wanted to return to the green Oregon country; however, on his way there in 1936 he settled in the Southern Idaho and Northern Utah area instead.
He married Amy Catherine Robbins of Stone, Idaho, on April 12, 1938 in Ogden, Utah. He was converted and became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Their marriage union was later solemnized in the Logan LDS Temple for all time and eternity. Together, they became the parents of four sons. Gordon, Garry, Donald and Dean.
He owned and operated a small farm at Stone. He made much of his own farm machinery, including a home-made tractor, self-propelled hay mowing machine, and buck rake. He served as a trustee for the Stone Elementary School and as secretary to the Delmar Canal Company. He also delivered the U.S. mail throughout the community of Stone for many years.
In 1962, he sold the farm and moved his wife and family to Ogden, Utah, where he became employed as a carpenter and construction worker. He was later employed by the Ogden City Parks Department doing construction and maintenance work. He designed and built many small portable buildings for Ogden’s Christmas Village.
During his life, he served as a Sunday School Teacher and High Priest, along with being a counselor to three different Bishops. He also served as a temple worker. He was very faithful all of his life to the teachings of Jesus Christ as he came to know them. He was a very kind, gentle and soft-spoken man; and he taught others by his good example and kind ways. He was always ready to help out whenever needed.
During his life span he witnessed much progress in the world he came to know – from – horse-drawn power and model “T” Fords, to jet power and the computer age. He also enjoyed making things in his workshop where in his later years he enjoyed just sitting by the wood-burning stove in his shop thinking about his next project. He enjoyed gardening and reading good books. He lived by the motto and taught: “If something is worth doing, it is worth doing right the first time.” He also encouraged others to be “slow to anger and quick to forgive.” He was a great living example of the teachings of Jesus Christ.
He is survived by his sweetheart, Amy, of 62 years, and four sons: Gordon Arnold (Carol) North, North Ogden, Utah; Garry Lavon North, Ogen, Utah; Donald Robert North, Tooele, Utah; and Dean LaMont (Celine) North, Ogden, Utah; along with two brothrers: Dale Edward (Ethel) North, Longpine, Nebraska; and Howard Clarence (Ruth) North, Montrose, Colorado. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Bryan, Lisa, Michael, Donald Jr., Deanne, Jason, Jeff and Tami; along with eight great-grandchildren: Kodee, Kade, Joshua, Andrew, Matthew, Ashliegh, Bridget, and Savannah.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Doris and Leah; along with one grandson, Dennis.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, September 5 at the Lorin Farr 2nd Ward Ogden, Utah. Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd. South Ogden, Utah.