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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 also be found in The Payson Chronicle.

Douglas B. Davis

Douglas Bruce Davis passed away on December 1, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. He valiantly
fought a two-year battle with End-stage Liver Disease, Liver Transplant and finally T-Cell Lymphoma.

Doug was born on May 19, 1954 in England to George Douglas Davis and Barbara Jean Walton Davis.
His father spent 21 years in the U.S. Air Force, which gave the family the opportunity to live in England,
Germany, the Philippines, and Japan. Doug loved those years and he grew to appreciate people and
cultures that were different than his own. Known fondly by his family as “Dougie Bruce”, he was the
oldest of nine children consisting of three boys and six girls: Lydia, Wendy, Eric Janet, Christine, Darian,
Jamie and Mike. He loved his siblings and they love him.

After graduating from Payson High School (Utah), Doug returned to Japan to serve a mission for the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He was instrumental in bringing Salt Lake City and
Matsumoto Japan together as Sister Cities. He loved the Japanese people, food and customs.

Upon returning from his mission he went on a blind date with Miriam Johnson and they were married
a year later in the Manti Temple. They were blessed with three daughters and two sons:  Lecia A.
Davis, Amy C. Davis, Stephen D. Davis (Julia), Kimberly S. Prince (Chandler), and Eric J. Davis (Taylor).
The family grew to welcome one amazing granddaughter, Eva Hughes, and 10 rambunctious grandsons:
Joel, Samuel and Aaron Hughes; Jacob, Landon, Benjamin and Evan Davis; Luke Prince; and Jude and
Eli Davis, who will welcome a baby sister to make a dozen in January. Doug adored his grandchildren,
as attested to by anybody who would stand still long enough to listen to him brag, complete with pictures
and videos on his phone. He was the World’s Best Pappy; making the grandkids laugh by being silly,
water-time in the jacuzzi, reading books with gusto, playing at the park and snuggling with them to watch
cartoons.  He was blessed with the ability to be childlike with them and they truly loved their Pappy.

Doug’s free spirit and entrepreneurial desires made self-employment the perfect career fit. In 1984, he
moved his young family to Torrance, California and started Champions Maintenance Services, which
he successfully ran for 34 years.  

Being self-employed afforded him the opportunity to watch almost every drill dance competition, track
meet, soccer match; baseball, softball, basketball, and football game that his children competed in. He
coached Little League Baseball for a few years, but his true love was coaching soccer. He had a talent
for explaining the game in a way that clicked with young minds.  He traveled the country coaching and/or
watching his children play soccer in competitive leagues, high school and college teams. He was a fixture
on the sidelines, ready with gatorade for those coming off the pitch. His favorite English Premier League
Team was Liverpool and we know where he was on December 2nd when Liverpool beat Everton 1-0.
We’re sure he got scolded later for interfering with earthly

sports outcomes, claiming ignorance to St. Peter regarding the new heavenly rules. Our family motto
is the Liverpool fight song, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

Fishing with his brother, Eric, was a favorite pastime. He also truly enjoyed spending quality time with
his many golfing buddies. Doug competed in the Utah Amateur Open in the early 70’s, was a Gladstan
Golf Course Club Champion and has two Certified Hole-in-Ones.

He was on the board of the LDS Golf Association of Southern California for many years.  Doug taught
all of his children to play golf and was working on the grandkids. Another gift Doug passed along to his
family was his great love of music, all different genres and artists. We had a lot of fun when he would
play the guitar and we would join in singing. Doug had an awesome playlist that we all enjoyed.

Doug was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many
callings throughout the years.  One of his favorite callings was being an Early Morning Seminary
Teacher in Torrance, CA. He was a great storyteller and make the scriptures come alive. Doug was
loved; an easy and loyal friend.  His family misses him immensely. He was preceded in death by his
parents, and youngest brother, Mike.

Doug’s memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 29th, 2018 at the LDS Chapel located
at 124 N. Valley View Drive, St. George, Utah.  Visitation will be at 11: 00 a.m. Services will begin at
Noon. If you have the jersey or scarf of your favorite soccer team, you are encouraged to wear it.  

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 also be found in The Payson Chronicle.

Patsy Anne Downey Curtis

Patsy Anne Downey Curtis, age 83, of Payson, passed away on December 20, 2018. Patsy was born on November 1, 1935 in Santaquin, Utah to Dennis Lundholm and Doris Shepherd Downey.  She attended Spanish Fork High School.

On September 25, 1952 she married the love of her life, William Duane Curtis. Together they had 5 children.

Pat became a beautician in 1969 and had 4 beauty salons. She worked 47 years in this profession! She still continued to do several ladies' hair at 81 years old.

Patsy was known for her crazy family parities appearing as the infamous "Wanda". She loved telling stories and writing poems. She liked going on family Lake Powell trips and cruises. She enjoyed crocheting, playing the organ, fishing and camping.

She was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and had a strong testimony.  She served in the Relief Society,  Young Women, and many other callings.

Pat is survived by her husband, William Duane Curtis, children: Debra Ann Weight (Gary), David Duane Curtis (Carolyn), Brenda Lynn Burdick (Brad), William Brian Curtis (Alison), and Jeremy Dee Curtis (Leesa). She is also survived by her 18 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, 3 brothers, and 2 sisters: Maurice, Jim, Doug , Betty, and Doris.

She was preceded in death by her parents and 3 brothers: Ned, Bob, Russell, 2 grandchildren, Daniel, Allee, and 1 great-grandchild, Thomas.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, December 28, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Payson 1st Ward, 225 South 400 East, Payson. A visitation will be held on Thursday, December 27, 2018 from 6-7 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 587 South 100 West, Payson. A visitation will also be held prior to service from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will be at the Payson City Cemetery. 

Condolences may be sent to www.walkerobits.com.

Christmas Eve Candle Lighting

Christmas in Payson.

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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 also be found in The Payson Chronicle.

Helen Shuler Beckstrom Obituary

Helen Shuler Beckstrom of Payson passed away peacefully and happily Saturday, December 15,
2018, at the age of 100.

She was born in Payson on October 29, 1918 to George and Esther Adeline Barney Shuler at Mary
Ann Olive and James Fayette Shuler’s home, her grandparent’s.

She was raised and lived in Payson most of her life.  She attended schools in Payson and especially
loved her years in Junior High School.  She sang on assemblies, was in school plays, and was one of
the three lead girls in the posture parade.

Helen married Leon A Beckstrom, July 11, 1942 in Yuma, Arizona.  She loved her family, and they
were always her number one priority, and she was always concerned about their well being.  Her
children and grandchildren loved to visit because of her welcoming kindness and unconditional love.
She was a wonderful mother and homemaker.

She loved music especially Lawrence Welk and listening to Nat King Cole.  She also liked playing
most card games but preferred Pinochle.

Helen was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Her favorite callings were
Primary teacher (20+ years) and visiting teacher.

Survivors include her children Charlotte Pace, Payson; Sherie (Neal) Ewell, Genola: Van (Margie)
Beckstrom, Delta; Gary Beckstrom, Ridgecrest, California; 15 grandchildren and 45 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and four sisters Golda, Edith, Detta, and Elaine;
three brothers Fay, Floyd and JH.

The family would like to thank Tom, Shelly, Dawn, Carly, Toni and Allen from Canyon Home Care and
Hospice for their quality care and kindness.

The family would also like to thank Payson Fifth Ward members for their kindness, service, love, and
support.

Services will be held Wednesday, December 19, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. in the Payson South Stake Center
located at 711 S. Peteeneet Blvd. in Payson Utah.  A viewing will be held prior to the services at 9:30am.

Condolences may be sent to www.walkerobits.com

Looking Back In Time: The Payson Chronicle in 2008

Prominent Payson Photographer's Work Lives On in Albums and Exhibitions

You’ll find “O. A. Daniels, Photographer” stamped on numerous photographs depicting Payson and the city’s early residents, including this unidentified portrait.  A prominent photographer, Orson A. Daniels was born in Payson, Utah, in 1865, and had at one time printed a small newspaper and made tintype photographs with his brother, Thomas Daniels.

Summarizing an account shared by his daughter, Stena C. Daniels, People Preserving Peteetneet Board Member Verdene Page-Wilson, in the 1990s, wrote that Orson’s first photo gallery “in Payson was on the west side of Main Street next to a meat market owned by Philo Wightman.  He later built a more modern gallery on First South near Main Street. Not being able to make a very good living in Payson, he traveled at first in a covered wagon that served as his photo lab. He would set up his tent and photograph people in mining towns and surrounding areas. Years later, family members took him around in an old truck.”

Mr Daniels died in his hometown, Payson, in 1955.  His work lives on in photo albums and displays. A permanent exhibition space in Payson bears his name today: the Daniels Photo Exhibit Room at the Peteetneet Museum and Cultural Arts Center.