Mourning the Passing of Friends: Forthcoming Funeral Services

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” ~ Helen Keller

Forthcoming funeral services are planned for the following friends from our community. Complete versions of these obituaries may be found in The Payson Chronicle and on our website at paysonchronicle.com.

Richard LaMar Wilson

Richard LaMar Wilson, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 20, in his home of issues incident to age.  His lovely wife May and other family members were by his side at the time of his passing.   

LaMar was born on December 18, 1928, in Payson, Utah, to John Richard Wilson Jr. and Jennie May Mitchell Wilson.  He was the youngest of seven children.  He attended Payson High School, followed by undergraduate and graduate studies at Brigham Young University. LaMar served in the military during the Korean war and he was very proud of the accomplishments he made there.  He also served an LDS mission in South Africa.

Shortly after returning from his mission LaMar met the love of his life, May Ivey.  They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on October 1, 1958.  Together they had four children, Scott, Bart, Joan, and Ann.  

May was the center of LaMar’s life. They enjoyed doing many things together.  They particularly enjoyed working in the yard.  Virtually every day the weather permitted, they could be found planting flowers, mowing, trimming, and improving their yard.  LaMar enjoyed a variety of other interests such as raising exotic pheasants, raising basset hounds, hunting, fishing, and riding motorcycles.  

LaMar was very proud of the fact that he was an educator.  He truly believed that education can open the doors to a better life.  He was a teacher for several years and was principal of the Payson Middle School for 22 years.  Many of his fondest memories were found within the walls of schools.  After retirement, LaMar went to work at Brigham Young University where he taught teacher preparation courses for 10 years.

LaMar will be deeply missed and is survived by his two sons Scott Wilson (Alice), and Bart Wilson (Jessica), and his two daughters, Joan Cox (Mark), and Ann Kendall (Craig).  LaMar has 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, five siblings, and his granddaughters Chelsie Cox Baun (Joan) and Shaunesi Wilson (Scott).

A viewing will take place on Friday, March 24th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Walker Mortuary, 587 S 100 W, Payson, Utah. Funeral services will be held at 12 noon, on Saturday, March 25th at the Payson Mountain View Stake Center located at 75 South 600 East, Payson. There will be a viewing prior to the service from 10:30am to 11:45am. Interment will be at the Payson Cemetery.

LaMar’s family wishes to thank all those who made a positive contribution to his life.  He was a person that made a difference in the lives of many, and he will be greatly missed.