MELVIN LAMAR PETERSON

Melvin L. Peterson

Melvin LaMar Peterson, 72, of Roy, Utah, died Sunday, July 9, 1989 of Lung cancer.

He was born August 20, 1916 in St. John, Idaho (Malad, Idaho, Route 1) to John H. Peterson and Hannah Jones Peterson.

He married Florabel Tovey-Vaughn on June 14, 1950. She died in a Farmington Canyon accident on June 12, 1969.

He married Peggy E. Williams on November 19, 1975. They were divorced on September 15, 1979.

He served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, through World War II and the Korean Conflict. He served 13 tours of duty aboard the USS Mississippi, USS Marblehead, USS Curtiss (Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941), USS Copahey, USS Boetes, USS Capriconus, Satyre, USS Kashkahia, USS Rodman, USS Ellyson, USS Macomb, and USS Blackhawk. He retired as a Chief Machinist’s Mat (CPO) after 20 years of service.

He was an active member of Fleet Reserve Association Branch 185, serving as Secretary, Chaplin, and Vice President. He was a memeber of the AARP and the NARFE.

He worked at the Hill AFB for 20 years as a truck driver for the Civil Engineers and a base security guard. He worked for seven years as a security guard for Universal Security Service at Hercules Plant in Clearfield’s Freeport Center; for Denco Security Service of Ogden; and for American Protective Service.

He attended St. John Public School, Malad High School, and one year at Utah State Agricultural College. He later attended Weber State College and completed an Associate of General Education degree. He also completed many training courses while in the Navy.

He was a member of the LDS Church and he served as a High Priest in the Roy First and Roy Sixth Wards. He was active in church, temple, and home teaching work.

He was preceded in death by his first wife Florabel Tovey, their infant son, Paul David Peterson, and his sister, Sarah Larsen. He is survived by a daughter, Jacqui Child, Ogden a brother, Woodrow W. Peterson, St. John, Idaho; five step-children: Vance N. Vaughan, Berkeley, California; Kerrie N. Vaughn, Riverdale; Jane Wiseman and Janace Elder, Centerville; 13 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services were held Thursday, July 13, at 11 a.m. at the Benson-Horsley Funeral Home. Burial was at the Malad Cemetery.