Miles C. Labrum

Miles C. Labrum 1918 ~ 2007 Miles Clayton Labrum passed away Friday, March 23, 2007 on his 89th birthday. He was a prominent botanist, beloved father and devoted husband. He was born March 23, 1918 in Murray, Utah to George Feramorz Labrum and Kathleen Clayton Labrum. He married Barbara Killpack on August 23, 1949 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They were happily married for 36 years and gave their three children an idyllic childhood. After Barbara passed away, he married Bobbie Anne Nowotny Hansen in 1986. An active, life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Miles served faithfully in numerous callings as a High Priest and had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ. He was highly intelligent, kind, hard working and pure in heart. Miles was a true gentleman and an exceptional person who saw nothing but beauty in the world. After graduating from Granite High School, Miles served in World War II as Communications Sergeant in the U.S. Army on the island of Okinawa with the 71st Chemical Mortar Battalion. Later he served in the Korean Conflict. Miles graduated from the University of Utah in 1954 with a degree in Botany and Plant Genetics. He worked as a landscape architect prior to his employment as an arborist for the University of Utah. In 1965 he was appointed Director of the State Arboretum of Utah. In addition to teaching at the University of Utah in the Biology Department, he was a popular lecturer for the University of Utah Speakers Bureau. He was the Utah State Capitol Arborist until his retirement in 1982. An extremely knowledgeable horticulturist, Miles served as president of the Utah Gladiolus Society, the Men's Garden Club of Salt Lake, the Western Chapter of the International Shade Tree Commission and chairman of the Intermountain Test Trial Garden for All-American Gladiolus Selections. He lectured throughout the United States and authored numerous articles on botany and horticulture. A nationally recognized expert in the hybridizing and cultivation of gladiolas, Miles introduced dozens of new varieties which are grown in the U.S. and abroad. Miles was an award-winning photographer of outdoor life and served as president of the Salt Lake Photochrome Club and Director of the Utah Chapter of the Photographic Society of America. His photographs have been published in the Encyclopedia Britannica and numerous horticultural journals. Survived by son, Dr. Jeffrey (Katherine) Labrum, and daughter, Jillana Labrum Butler. Also survived by his wife Bobbie Anne and her children Mark Hansen, Joy (Kevin) Cutler, Jana (Jeff) Harris, Janie (Paul) Arnold, Darla (Don) Swenson. Also survived by his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, his sister, Elaine (Ralph) McDonald and brother, Dale (Pat) Labrum. Preceded in death by his wife Barbara, son, Brad and brother, Richard Labrum. Funeral services will be held Fri., March 30, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the Little Cottonwood 18th Ward, 6410 S. 725 East, Murray, UT. Viewing will be Thurs., March 29, 2007 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 1950 E. 10600 South, Sandy, UT, and one hour prior to services at the church. Interment, Lake Hills Memorial Cemetery, 10055 S. State, Sandy, Utah. Online condolences, www.larkinmortuary.com