Alex Mansour Obituary

Alex Elias Mansour, Jr, 86, quietly passed away peacefully in the early morning of September 20, 2017. Dad had a good long happy life, with a wonderful wife, Dorothy Misrasi Mansour; two daughters, Victoria Vernon and Anthina Ferguson, and four grandchildren; Alexandra Vernon, Clare Vernon, Timothy J. Bettridge and Samantha M Bettridge.
Alex was born in West Virginia, the 3rd of 7 siblings, to Alex Elias Sr. and Murial Wills Mansour. His youth was spent in the rural and backwoods coal fields of West Virginia in 1945. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout at Cannelton, West Virginia in 1945. Graduating from high school in 1948 from Montgomery High School as Valedictorian and Class President. He received a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan in January 1952, being elected to Chi Epsilon, a Civil Engineering Honorary, and Tau Beta Pi, the Honorary Engineering Society.
He enlisted in the Army immediately upon graduation, taking his basic training as an Infantryman at Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. He completed Infantry Leadership School and Engineering Candidate School at Fort Belvoir, graduating as Distinguished Graduate of his class. He served in Korea as a Platoon Leader and Company Commander of Company A, 439th Engineer Battalion. After discharge he returned to the University of Michigan completing a Master's Degree in Civil Engineering. Alex was a licensed Professional Engineer in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Utah.
Alex was employed by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) for 25 years, in many capacities, the most enjoyable of which was to serve as District Director in Cedar City, Utah. He did many foreign consulting engagements in Saudi Arabia, Chad, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Pakistan, Grenada and Swaziland.
He was an active Free Mason, Scottish Rite and Shriner for 52 years. He was also a member of The Order of the Eastern Star of Utah.
His greatest accomplishment was when he was in a position of authority; he never violated a budget or the public interest.
As per my father's wishes, there will be no services, memorial, or masonic funeral. The family wishes to express our sincere heartfelt thanks to Bella Terra, of Cedar City, Utah, and Intermountain Hospice for the excellent care and respect of our family member - my Dad, Alex, and support to us, his family. God Bless you folks for the help to transition during this stage of his life. Online condolences can be sent to www.sumortuary.com

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Published by The Salt Lake Tribune on Sep. 26, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Alex Mansour

Sponsored by Southern Utah Mortuary - Cedar City.

11 Entries

Michael Darter

June 5, 2021

Alex hired me to work in the UDOT structural department in 1966. He was an amazing man and engineer. I departed and went on to graduate school and a long academic career at University of Illinois, but never forgot the experiences I had working for Alex, and just found his obit. A very impressive man and engineer!!! RIP Alex!

Laurence Benander

October 21, 2020

I worked with Alex in Swaziland in the spring of 1992. We were both Civil Engineers, as I recall I was 11 years younger then him. I was there for 5 weeks, he was t here several weeks longer. He spent one weekend in Kruger Park, the best park in the world. We lived in a town house outside of the capital. We were doing rehab studies on rural roads. We got lost many times and saw a lot of wonderful sites. We did work hard and long hours. Alex did not always trust the computer skills. He drove mainly since I had never driven on the other side of the road. He was a lot of fun and we kept in contact for a number of years. He was a outstanding engineer but much more important he was a very nice man. We had many talks in the evenings. You could tell he loved his wife and two daughters. The last time I talked with him he said his wife had passed away several years before. It is not easy to lose a wife, I lost my wife in 2019 just 11 days short of 50 years of marriage. The five weeks spent with Alex was one of the best times of my life.

R Scott Phillips

November 30, 2017

I so enjoyed my time getting to know your father/grandfather as a professional in his work and then as a community volunteer. I loved his smile and all he did to make Cedar City a great community. Thoughts and prayers to all of the family.

September 27, 2017

We enjoyed your Mom and Dad and the friendship we shared as being neighbors. We know they are both happier now. Hope you are doing okay Tina. We send our love to all the family.
Arlo & Darlene Larson

William G. Lapsley

September 26, 2017

I first met Alex when I joined Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 2 F & A M in 1969 and he was in the line to be Master in 1972. For many years we spent Monday nights together and while we had different vocations, we were always friends and brothers. I last saw Alex at a Mt. Moriah Birthday party at the Alta Club and he looked well. We visited while we were at the same table and reminiced over past experiences. He loved Cedar City. I will miss my friend and brother.

Dorothy Harris

September 26, 2017

Although I have not seen either Alex nor Dorothy for several years, I have missed them both and have though about them very often. Dorothy and I were out having dinner, the night she first met Alex at the Athenian. Their courtship was a joy to behold and he treated her like a princess.
They were a wonderful couple and Alex has now joined his bride and the world has lost so much. May they both rest in peace.

Gail Clonch Tephabock

September 26, 2017

Having no memory of meeting A.E., I knew his family well. His sweet mother gave me piano lessons - a true lady who always had beautiful flower gardens. His father, loved cigars, had a friendly, outgoing personality and always a broad smile. An immigrant at an early age, he was a tremendous asset to the USA and at one time he was Mayor of our tiny, safe town of Smithers. My family often shopped in his department store in Smithers, WV and later when he relocated to Montgomery, WV. Sometimes I stopped in the store on my home from Oakland Grade School. On one visit, I selected a yellow wind breaker (one of my all-time favorite jackets) and a cute pair of white patent leather shoes with a bow. I called home on the store phone (that large black thing with attached cord) for permission for my purchases. Mr. Mansour allowed me to wear my purchases home and one of my parents went to the store to pay for my treasures. Small towns are the greatest!! I remember Scott, Esther, Edith - some of them were taught High School Biology by my dad. Miriam is a life-long dear friend and Montgomery High School Classmate (1964). I have friends/relatives who went to school with A. E. and regard him highly. I'm sorry for your loss. May his family and friends treasure favorite memories.

Patrick Porter

September 25, 2017

Truly a great and humble man as his last instructions were to not make a fuss over his passing. That is hard for me to honor. I feel extremely fortunate to have met both Alex and Dorothy (very hard to think of either without the other).It has also been my pleasure to have known those that I have met from the extended Mansour Family (Tina, Tim, Sam and Clare) over the past 30 years. I am a much richer person for having met them all. Alex was truly a hero of mine and someone I looked up to and admired. I used to tell him that he was a solution looking for a problem. It has been a much richer world because of him and Dorothy, and now a much poorer world without them here. May God bless the entire Mansour family. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.

Connie Pullen

September 23, 2017

My sympathy goes to all of the family. I will miss my oldest friend and our daily talks.

Connie and Ted Porray

September 23, 2017

Our thoughts and prayers for the family and friends of Alex during this time. He will be missed.

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