Floyd Whitaker

Floyd Lamont Whitaker

January 15, 1930 ~ December 8 2015

Floyd Lamont Whitaker, 85, passed away Tuesday, December 8, 2015.

He was born January 15, 1930 in Brigham City, Utah to Hyrum Richard and Mary Cecelia Nelson Whitaker. He attended Box Elder High School, but dropped out in10th grade, to help his dad who was then in his 60’s doing heavy labor on a garbage truck. He worked double time to ease his Dad’s burden.

Floyd enlisted in Army National Guard and began dating Montella Baker. They were married just a week before he was deployed to fight in the Korean War. He fought alongside friends from Brigham City making the year away from his wife and family more bearable. Floyd was discharged at the rank of Corporal. Upon returning from the war he began working at Hill Air Force Base in transportation and logistics, retiring in 1979.

After returning from the war, the young couple had two children, Michael and Becky. After ten years together they divorced. On May 29, 1962, Floyd married the love of his life, Fern Arlene Mobley. With her praise of his abilities, he obtained his GED at Bonneville High and climbed from the bottom to the top of the organization he worked for on HAFB. They had a daughter together, Teri, and Floyd raised Fern’s children, Kyle and Lori as if they were his own. They rounded out their family with Lisa who was born eight years later.

He loved fishing and traveling. He was an avid wood-worker, making lots of bird houses. With much encouragement from his feisty wife, he was drug, kicking and screaming into real estate. The many rental homes the couple acquired through Fern’s genius at spotting a bargain, proved to be the catalyst for building their legacy. A self-taught electrician, he was very capable at building and maintaining their homes.

In his last years, he treasured the tender mercies of getting to know the children of his youngest brother, Clyde, and getting reacquainted with his children and grandchildren frrm his first marriage.

Floyd will be remembered for his generosity, his love for his grandchildren and his caring nature. He truly wore his heart on his sleeve and served his beautiful wife through all of her suffering with Alzheimer’s. There’s no question he will be thrilled to be reunited with her.

He is survived by his children, Michael (Rae) Eddy, Orem; Kyle (Laura) Whitaker, Layton; Becky (Richard) Eddy McDermott, Orem; Lori (Randy) Imes, West Haven; Teri (Tom) Phelps, Clinton; Lisa (Shawn) Esplin, Rio Rancho, NM; 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his bride of over 50 years, and ten siblings.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday, December 14, 2015 at Lindquist’s Roy Mortuary, 3333 West 5600 South. The family will meet with friends Sunday, December 13th from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary.

Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.