Earl Gray Saunders

Earl Gray Saunders

Earl Gray Saunders, wonderful husband, father, grandfather, friend, and brave soldier, left this world behind Sunday, September 1, 2013 in Ogden, and joined his sweetheart of seventy years, Marie, in heaven.

Earl was born on July 10, 1918, to Edward and Essie Gray Saunders. He graduated from high school in North Platte, Nebraska where he ran track and played tennis. As a cub reporter just out of high school, he had the honor of interviewing Amelia Earhart on her trip through Nebraska. Shortly thereafter, as Earl liked to put it, he didn''t join the army, but the army joined him. And following several years apart, Marie got in touch with Earl and they were married in Saluda, South Carolina, near Fort Jackson, on May 30, 1942. Marie passed away November 24, 2012, holding Earl''s hand.

Earl proudly served his country in Europe during World War II, landing on Normandy, and fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, and again in Korea. However, he never considered himself a hero, contrary to his children''s beliefs. Earl retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in Fort Carson, Colorado in 1963 and began his civil service career at Hill Air Force Base.

Despite having witnessed the ravages of war, our father was a kind and gentle man. He rarely spoke of what he saw in Europe, preferring to entertain us with silly songs and bad jokes. He had a song for every situation, and right to the end, could crack us all up with a well-placed punchline.

Earl earned his bachelor''s degree in accounting at Weber State College in 1972, going to class in the evenings. Even late in life, he loved to study, especially American history and the Supreme Court.

Earl had an amazing memory. If you wanted a baseball fact, from any era, he knew it. He could recall nearly every acquaintance''s name... from the child who sat next to him in second grade to his second-in-command in 1943 to every resident at Legacy Village in Layton, where he lived the last two years of his life.

Never was there a more devoted and loving husband or father. As Marie''s eyesight and memory began to fail, Earl patiently cared for his sweetie, often reading the newspaper aloud and reminding her again and again of events she had forgotten. We adored our father, and he loved and took care of all of us.

Earl leaves us with the gift of our family''s genealogy. He meticulously researched and recorded, not only dates and places, but stories of our ancestors. We will always be grateful for having a written history of the people who produced our parents.

Earl is survived by his children and their spouses, Mark and Jean Saunders, Colorado; Patrick and Nan Saunders, California; Deborah Saunders, Roy; Peggy Saunders and Karl Seashore, Centerville; Michele and David Friz, Layton; and Marti Martinez, Roy; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Dorothy Childs, of Denver.

The family would like to thank the residents and employees of Legacy Village in Layton for their friendship and kindness towards our father. We would also like to thank the staff of McKay Dee hospital for their excellent care.

As per his wishes, Earl was cremated. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 14, at 11:00 AM at First Presbyterian Church in Ogden. Family will greet friends at 10:30 at the church.

Services entrusted to Lindquist''s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.