Eugene L. "Ted" Midgley

Eugene Leroy "Ted" Midgley was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on December 11, 1930, the oldest of five children born to Eugene Thurgood and Gertrude Vandersteen Midgley. At an early age, he was given the nickname "Ted", which remained with him all his life. During his childhood and youth, Ted lived on Alden Street and attended Highland Park Elementary, Irving Junior and South High Schools, graduating in 1948. He met his sweetheart, Marylyn Jackson, in early childhood and they grew together through their young lives. All through their childhood they remained friends and in their teenage years they dated and began to fall in love. They attended school and participated in many school and church activities together. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America and earned his Eagle Scout award. During high school, he was active in the ROTC program and earned the rank of Lt. Colonel. One of his friends nicknamed him "Moose" but "Ted" won the race for #1 nickname. Shortly after graduation from high school, he received his mission call to the Spanish-American Mission and spent his time in Galveston and Corpus Christi, Texas. The entire time Ted was on his mission, he and Marylyn wrote letters to each other and their romance blossomed. On July 2, 1953, within a week of being released from his mission, he married his sweet, eternal companion in the Salt Lake LDS Temple and he cherished Marylyn and loved her with all his heart for the rest of his life. Ted was inducted into the United States Army 2 months after they were married, where he faithfully served our country. He was honorably discharged after boot camp and he returned home just in time for the birth of their first child. Their marriage was blessed with 7 children and he loved each one of them deeply. He always appreciated everything that Marylyn and his children did for him. He was a very spiritual man. He always listened to the promptings of the Spirit and was richly blessed for his faithfulness. A steadfast and devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints all his life, Ted was called to many positions and served in each one with commitment and devotion. His faith was unwavering. His skill and knowledge of all areas of construction and decorating were exceptional and few could do finer work. He had many customers who were willing to wait, even for a year or more, for him to do a job for them because they would not have anyone else do the work. His pride in workmanship and his integrity were unmatched. In his later years, his woodworking skills blossomed even further and he began handcrafting pan flutes. Ted worked in the Salt Lake, Idaho Falls, Chicago, San Diego, Bountiful, Jordan River and Nauvoo LDS Temples for 32 years and from April 1999 to March 2002, he and Marylyn served a mission in Nauvoo. Perhaps one of the greatest highlights of his life was being known as the "Painter of the Temple windows" at Nauvoo. While there, he taught countless people to play the harmonica and entertained at many functions. He sold about 1,000 harmonicas while they were in Nauvoo. He often wished that he had learned to play the piano and to sing at an earlier age. Throughout his life, he had many passions; his family, his faith, his work, playing the harmonica and pan flute, fishing, flying (he was a pilot), building and flying remote control airplanes, raising chickens, growing geraniums, and he loved to eat. His birthday was always a very special day to him, and having everyone over to celebrate and eat cake and ice cream made him so very happy. He taught his family the value of hard work, fairness, honesty and integrity through his examples and the way he lived his daily life. His talents and abilities were limitless. Ted was diagnosed with cancer of the prostate and doctors told him that he might live another 18 months, but, through his steadfast adherence to the Word of Wisdom and the love and tender care of his family, he was able to remain with them for much longer. His deep love for his wife and family will live on in their hearts forever. His daughter, Kelly, has a nail care business and he would graciously humor her and let her paint his finger and toenails periodically. Together, they surprised the doctor when he went to check Ted's feet and found the nails gaily painted. On Sunday, May 07, 2006, he went to sleep at his home, surrounded by his loving family and woke up in the arms of his Savior. Left to cherish his memory and celebrate the legacy that he left us are his beloved wife of 52 years, Marylyn; his children, Glenn (Colleen) Midgley, Teri (Craig) Ramsey, Melonie (David) Sellers, Mark (Debbie) Midgley, Kelly (Alan) Bowyer, Michael (Debbie) Midgley, Brian (Aliece) Midgley, Patrick Biggs and Antonio del Palacio; his grandchildren, Michelle (Shad) Russo, Steven Troy Midgley, Joshua (Lindsay), Jacob and Rebecca Ramsey, Toni (Craig) Labbee, Jason, Alyssa, Chandler and Bo Midgley, Chelsey (Andrew) Gooch, Nick, Austin, Brielle and Chase Bowyer, Clarissa, Brittany, Erik, Justin, Jason, Jordan, Conner and Tanner Midgley, his great grandchildren, Logan Russo, Christien, Saige, Skyler and Shianne Labbee; stepmother, Margaret; brothers and sisters, Duane (Ina) Midgley, Lois (Jim) Hutchins, Norman (Helen Jane) Midgley, Dixie (Bill) Wagner, Valene (Ed) Tillack, Lydia (Ashel) Evans, Glen (Donnia) Krebs; Sister-in-Law, Sharron Krebs; one aunt, Bertha Reilly, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Meeting him for the beginning of his new journey were his parents, Eugene T. and Gertrude V. Midgley; brother, Wayne Krebs, sister, Margaret Adams and her husband, Bill Adams. He was our patriarch and our hero and we will miss him dearly. His legacy of love, commitment, service and faithfulness will live on in the hearts of his family. Friends may call on Thursday, May 11, 2006 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and on Friday from 11:00 to 11:45 AM, followed by the funeral service at 12:00 Noon, both at Grandview 2nd LDS Ward, 2930 South 2000 East, Salt Lake. Interment will follow at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery in Sandy. Midgley Gardenside Mortuary in charge of arrangements, assisted by Larkin Mortuary, Sandy, Utah. "There is no better measure of what a person is than what he does when he is absolutely free to choose. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant . . . enter thou into the joy of the Lord."