Dean Maughan

Dean Leth Maughan Someone once said, “A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles.” Dean Leth Maughan completed his successful journey here on earth by both measures on November 7, 2013. Dean was born May 1, 1924 of goodly parents, Charles P. and Carrie Leth Maughan. He was a twin, weighing only 3 ½ lbs. He started life sleeping in his father’s size 8 shoe box, and never felt like he needed much more than that. Dean was always optimistic, happy with his circumstances, and frugal. He flew thousands of miles for the Navy as a tail-gunner on a B-24 Bomber in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. Dean flew over 60 missions, receiving seven Air Medals and two Distinguished Flying Crosses. Shortly after returning home from the war, he volunteered to served an LDS Mission for his church and served 2 ½ years in Denmark, the homeland of his grandparents. He married Joyce Bowen in 1949 and they had six beautiful children together. They homesteaded in Idaho, taught school children on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico, and then settled in Mesa, Arizona where he taught third grade for 17 years. Dean was a teacher by a profession, but also in all areas of his life. He was always a farmer at heart. He spent many happy summers farming with his family in Montana and Idaho. In 1984 he met Virgie Merrill and after a few visits and many love letters they married in the Arizona Temple. They finally settled in Layton and Dean built a log home on the same site where his parents had built the home of his youth. In 1991 they served a church mission in the Philippines. This was the second time Dean served in the Pacific. They also served together as ordinance workers at the Ogden Temple. In 2003 he was honored as being the Grand Marshal of the Layton City Parade and was named the town’s “Hometown Hero”. Dean had many hard times and very real challenges placed before him in life, many more than most of us will ever know. He had a gift for always finding and sharing the positive in life with everyone he met. He was a very humble, patient, and loving man. He had a full life and was loved by everyone who knew him. Dean had battled skin cancer for over 20 years and we wish to thank his hospice team for their help during this difficult time. Dean is survived by his loving wife Virgie, his children JoDean (Ray) Dunn, LaRee (Kevin) Olson, Randon (Kim) Maughan), Teresa (Glenn) Abney, Melanie (Richard) Speechly, and Kristine (Scott) Nance, step-children Luanne (Steve) Kengott, Yvonne (Darrell) Leslie, 26 grandchildren, and 51 great-grandchildren. We are all comforted in knowing our beloved husband, father, and grandfather is now “running on all four cylinders” once again. Funeral services will be held Friday, November 15, 2013 at 2 p.m. at the Layton Hills Ward Chapel, 3290 N. 1050 E., Layton. Friends may visit family Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road and Friday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the church. Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.

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