Posted on: Laws Obituaries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/FamilyAssoc/LawsObits/10245 Surname: Laws, Peterson, Palmer, Hurst, Hall, Clark, Pehrson, Crawford, Jackson, Hemingway, Hawkins ------------------------- San Juan Record San Juan County, UT March 4, 1987 Wilbur F. Laws Wilbur Francis (Wib) Laws was born July 2, 1915 at the Starr Ranch in Juab County, Utah, the fourth of wight children born to Mary Francis Peterson and Wilford Derby Laws. He passed away February 18, 1987 at the San Juan Hospital in Monticello, Utah after a lingering illness. The family moved to Blanding, Utah when Wib was 10 months old. He graduated from high school in 1935, the end of his formal education. However, he wasn't unlearned and he never forgot anything he read or heard. He will be remembered always by his family as a great teacher and a marvelous storyteller. All of his grandchildren can sing one of his little songs, or recite one of his poems. Wib's first paying job was herding sheep when he was 13 years old. After that, he worked each summer and attended school during the winter. When he was 15, he talked his father into homesteading some farm land for him and worked all summer to get the money for the filing fee. The farm became his when he was age 17 and he then spent years clearing it. He loved the land and always found great peace there. On August 12, 1939, Wib and Wanda Hurst Palmer were married. She was a widow with two young boys. To this union were born eight children. Wib was a hard worker and provided well for his family. He punched cows, trapped for the government, mined, worked in a sawmill and an uranium mill, and worked for both the state and county road department. He also drove school bus and the senior citizen bus, worked as an extra in movies, and cut and sold cedar posts, Christmas trees, and firewood. He loved to garden and always raised more than his family would use and he shared the bounty of his garden with his many friends. He was active in civic affairs and among other things, served as a board member for the ASCS, the water conservancy district, San Juan County Farm Bureau, FHA, the Weed Control Program, and the Blanding Irrigation Company. He spent his life in devoted service to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He completed three fulltime two year stake missions, mistly among the American Indian people. He served in the Indian Branch for three years, in the shadow leadership teaching program in the Southwest Indian Mission for over three years, and was branch president for one and a half years at Denetsosie. he served in every auxiliary and quorum including assignments as high priest group leader and stake high councilman. The highlight of his service to the church was as a fulltime missionary with his wife in the Colorado, Denver Mission. Wib is survived by his wife of 48 years; 10 children, Retta Ann Hall of Salt Lake City, Carolyn Clark of Grantsville, UT, Jean Pehrson of Monticello, Curtis Albert Palmer, James (Jim) Earl Palmer, Mary Kay Crawford, Melvin (Mel) Keith, Sandra Jackson, Lynn Francis and Kelly G., all of Blanding; 43 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren; and two sisters, Donna Hemingway of Salt Lake City and June Hawkins of Monticello. He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, two brothers and five grandsons. Funeral services were held February 21, 1987 at the Blanding LDS Stake Center with Bishop Rayburn Jack presiding. Interment was in Blanding City Cemetery.