Henry Markosian

Henry Markosian 1922 ~ 2008 Henry Markosian, our loving grandfather, father and brother passed away on Wednesday, April 30th after a five-year battle with bladder cancer.Dad was the oldest of ten children born to Armenian immigrants Nick and Takoohie Markosian, of Murray, Utah. His humble beginnings in Murray shaped his entire life. His love of gardening and the outdoors began here. He and his brother, Abe, spent summers pedaling their bicycles all over the valley to pick cherries, thin beet fields or weed fields for local farmers. Dad served in the Signal Corps during World War II in the Philippines and the occupation of Japan. He met his lifelong companion, Moneta Drysdale, while attending the University of Utah working towards a degree in Electrical Engineering. After marrying in 1947, Mom and Dad moved to Washington state while Dad worked for the Army Corps of Engineers on the Grand Coulee Dam project, and in Walla Walla. In 1953 they moved to California where they spent most of the rest of their lives. Never one to sit still for very long, he worked in the Engineering field until turning 72 in 1992 when he began to focus on raising tomatoes and keeping his family supplied with "Grandpa Jam". Henry is survived by his children, Wayne (Mikyong), Steven (Judy, deceased), and James (Mary); grandchildren, Michael Vallincourt, Curtis, Julie, Ethan, Jamie, Nicholas, Andrew, Nathan and Mathew; great-grandchildren, Michelle and Travis; brother, Robert (Mary); and sisters, Mary (Drew Jensen), Helen, and Lucy (Galen Bean). He is preceded in death by his wife, Moneta; daughter, Elaine; brothers, Abe, Lou, David and Hygis; and sister, Blanch. Funeral services will be Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at Jenkins Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State Street, Murray, Utah, where a viewing and visitation with the family will take place from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 9th and from 10:00-10:45 a.m. prior to the service on Saturday. Interment: Murray City Cemetery. Donations in memory of Henry may be sent to one of his favorite places to watch his grandchildren play, Juan Diego Catholic High School, 11800 South, 300 East, Draper, UT 84020. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.jenkins-soffe.com