John Harvey Phelps

John Harvey Phelps, Legendary skier, passed away on December 15, 2023, at home surrounded by loving family.

He was born in Ogden, Utah to Edmond and Mary Harvey Phelps on May 12, 1935, the youngest of three siblings, following David and Esther. As widely known, John was quite the exceptional athlete. The first love of his life was the sport of skiing.

He began skiing at the age of 3, to which he was a natural on the slopes. John won bundles of awards for record breaking times locally and across the western United States. One of his most prized awards won, was the Majestic Ski Cup during the 1950’s. John was also an alternate for the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California. John skied for Weber College and earned fourth place in giant slalom at Snow Basin with Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Utah State University.

John was a Davis High School graduate after which he then entered the US Army, where he served in the Special Service Division in Puerto Rico. During his time served in Puerto Rico, he was voted most outstanding athlete of the Puerto Rico Track and Field Championship. He won a berth on the US Army Track and Field team, where he was flown back to the states to compete in the U.S. Army Championship Track Meet. He also played with the baseball team that won the division title, regimental tennis squad, broke island records in Javelin with a toss of 204 ft. 11 inches and lowered the 220-yard low hurdles record of 25.6 seconds to 23.8 seconds. He continued this athletic streak into Camp Losey earning the title of runner-up in heavy weight division and regimental light heavy champ runner up to the division champion.

John married his first wife, Yvonne Beaudoin, when they welcomed his two eldest daughters, Mitzi Phelps Lloyd (Doug) and Kristi Phelps Dinneen (George). John and Yvonne divorced, and he later married Sherry Williams. The two continued their family with Michele Waldron (Chad), Jodi Jones, Rachel Phelps Richards (Jeremy), Heidi Phelps Spinelle (Mik) and John Harvey Phelps Jr. (Monica). John was blessed with 25 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

Over the last few years of Johns life, every caregiver, hospital staff, and others had nothing but words of astonishment and praise of how well Sherry took care of him. Dan Phelps, John’s nephew, took him on fishing trips to Alaska and Washington which John enjoyed immensely.

John is proceeded in death by his parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, daughter, Jodi, and two grandsons, Gavin and Maxwell. He is survived by his caring wife Sherry, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and more family and friends.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday December 19, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Rd., Layton, Utah. Friends may visit with family Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary prior to the service.

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