Person:Louring Whittaker (1)

Louring Arthur Whittaker: Louring Arthur Whittaker son of Arthur Whittaker and Mozetta Smith. Born 17 May 1897, at Circleville, Piute, Utah. Married Fern D. Sevy. Died 21 January 1944, at Richfield, Sevier, Utah. Buried at Circleville. Blessed 4 July 1897 by J.O. Jensen. Baptized by Wiley Dalton and confirmed by Joseph Simkins, 18 June 1905. Ordained deacon 19 November 1910, by James E. Peterson; priest 27 December 1914 by Benjamin Cameron, Jr.; elder 30 September 1917 by Benjamin Cameron; high priest 25 May 1924 by Charles E. Rowan. Mission to Japan, left Salt Lake City 28 November 191 [date incomplete]; returned 22 February 1922.

9 September 1918: Registered for the draft, with the Vice Consul of the United States at Osaka, Japan. Missionary at Osaka, Japan; claims exemption as a missionary. Local address: 5401 Shin-poin-cho, Tannoji, Osaka, Japan. Tall, medium build; blue eyes, black hair. Of Circleville; appears on list of "persons whose registration cards are in the possession of" Piute County Draft Board, WWI-era. 1920: Enumerated in Circleville, but serving as a minister in Japan. Can read and write. 9 March 1922: Louring Whittaker Returned from Japan. Welcome Home Party Given in Circleville, in his Honor Circleville, Utah, March 4, 1922.--A welcome home party was given in honor of Elder Louring Whittaker who has just returned from his trip around the world after spending four years laboring in the Japan mission. The hostesses were Mrs. Mary Horton, Minnie Veater, O.A. Fullmer, Retta Smith, Lizzie Fullmer, Lila Barton and Leah Wood. A very excellent program was rendered. / The school auditorium was decorated in pink and white cherry blossoms and oriental shades. / Chop Sewey, tea and wafers were served to three hundred guests.3 October 1924: At the opening of school Kingston had one hundred percent lacking one little girl, Loree Allen who was sick. Teachers are Mr. W.J. Luke, Mr. Louring Whittaker and Miss Myrtle Boun.21 November 1924: Organized Scouting a Power for Good. Like the Niagara Falls being harnessed for its potential and kinetic power by the right kind of machinery so the boys in Piute County must be made to realize that in the Boy Scout organization being organized here machinery is being perfected to take care of the potential energy being lost by the youth of this country. Boy Scout Organization is a National institution and endeavors to build up the youth of the country to realize the part they must play in our great Commonwealth. It gives them ideas that tend to perfect and brings out the great purpose of life in ways that interest and education. / Boys become identified with real active issues that imbue them with the invisible spirit of the organization. They see with their naked eye the iridescent banner promoting the welfare of each city or hamlet. The irregular and intermittent hopes that arise in the hearts of the youths are not crushed into the earth when they join the ranks. The organization fires their hopes and brings out the hidden possibilities that are lying dormant. The parents of our boys in this country have their responsibility to bear. It is all real Drama that is being turned from the reels. We cannot sit contentedly on the side lines and take the part of the Jackdaws, interfering and crying out for the Boy Scouts of America, for the training that the Scouts receive willmake stalwart men of honor out of them. Many parents are miserable failures in rearing their children. They will go out so to speak and shut the front gates in the lots thinking they will keep their boys from meeting up with the temptations outside, and at the same time the yard gate near by is wide open so that the boys have a easier get-a-way. They do go out and are tempted by the environment they fall into. Earth born, they many times become degenerates and end up as decrepit sores on society. The moment a boy passes his tenderfoot examination and becomes a Boy Scout he starts to aspire and climb a ladder leading to the horizon of service and happiness. What little depravity is lurking in his breast is driven away by the real magical touch of scout craft. When the rising sun appears over the horizon Old Sol as a member of the Court of Honor salutes anyone upholding Scouting in Piute County. Louring A. Whittaker.10 February 1928: County Assessor Whittaker was making his annual visit around town (Marysvale) last week. Notary public; commissioned 27 March 1929, expired 26 March 1933; commission renewed 5 January 1934, expired 4 January 1938; commission renewed 14 February 1938, expired 13 February 1942; commission renewed 14 February 1942, expired 13 February 1946.6 December 1929: Louring A. Whittaker left Wednesday morning for Salt Lake City where he will attend the Assessor Treasurer's meeting held there the latter part of the week. He will also visit with his wife and new daughter who have just gone to Mrs. Whittaker's mother, Mrs. Warren Sevy's home, from the hospital where they have been for the past month. After remaining there for about a month, Fern and baby will return home.13 December 1929: Louring A. Whittaker, county treasurer/Assessor of Circleville, returned Sunday evening from Salt Lake City where he spent several days doing business and visiting. He went to attend the Assessor's meting called by governor Dern.20 December 1929: Rich Ore Strike in Circleville Canyon. When Louring A. Whittaker returned from Salt Lake City the first of the week, he brought back with him an assay of ore taken in for a test which was found in Circleville canyon and he reports that the assay shows that a rich strike has been made in the canyon just above the old Kettleman ranch. While R.W. Lay, Nolan Dobson and Cloyd Morrill were working on the road about a month ago they discovered a rich piece of "float" which caused some excitement and immediately several men began locating claims. Louring, who had made a special study of geology for the past twelve years and R.W. Lay went out immediately and they feel sure they have discovered the ridge from which the float came and the assay shows that, regardless of whether or not it is the same ledge, that they have struck something worthwhile. The ore contains some gold, silver, lead and claims have been located throughout the canyon. Here's hoping something really big will come from these claims. 10 May 1931: Louring A. Whittaker of Circleville was doing business in Junction on Sunday.22 May 1931: Mr. and Mrs. Louring A. Whittaker and children of Circleville stopped in Junction Wednesday on their way north.24 July 1931: Louring A. Whittaker and two children of Circleville were doing business in Junction on Monday.1 September 1931: Of Circleville; signed articles of incorporation of Circleville Growers, Inc., organized "to engage in any activity in connection with the picking, gathering, harvesting, receiving, assembling, handling, grading, standardizing, packing, processing, transporting, storing, financing, advertising, selling, marketing and/or distribution of any fruits and/or vegetables delivered by its members or any of the products manufactured therefrom and in connection with the purchase or use by and/or for its members of supplies, machinery and/or equipment."25 December 1931: Offered benediction at James Christopher Whittaker funeral.17 August 1939: Mr. and Mrs. Louring Whittaker and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Woods of Circleville spent the weekend in Ogden.20 September 1940: Louring Whittaker, Garold Horton, Carl Wood, Harold and Arthur Gottfredson spent Sunday at Panguitch lake.8 November 1940: Douglas Cannon, Mr. and Mrs. Karl Wood, Lawring and Guy Whittaker, attending the Taylor Grazing election in Fillmore Saturday.13 December 1940: Mr. and Mrs. Louring Whittaker and family went to Sigurd Sunday to attend a birthday dinner given in honor of the 77th birthday of Mrs. Whittaker's father, Mr. Warren Sevy.25 April 1941: Louring A. Whittaker and E.G. Cheney returned home Sunday from a week's stay in Arizona.16 January 1942: Louring Whittaker is in Richfield hospital where he was operated on last week. He is getting along nicely.13 February 1942: Loring Whittaker is up and around again after his operation.21 January 1944: Of Circleville; stockman; lifetime resident of Utah. Died at Sevier Valley Hospital of cerebral hemorrhage. Funeral held at Circleville chapel. Name found in list of school teachers in Piute County, "from records and memory, from beginning to 1950.27 January 1944: Funeral services were held in Circleville Tuesday afternoon for Louring A. Whittaker, 46, prominent Piute County resident, who died Friday at the Sevier Valley hospital, in Richfield. Burial was in the Circleville cemetery. He was born May 17, 1897, in Circleville, a son of Arthur and Mozzeta Smith Whittaker. He graduated from the Branch Agricultural college and spent four years on an LDS mission to Japan. He married Fern Sevy, June 28, 1922, in the Salt Lake LDS temple. From 1926 to 1930 he served as Piute county treasurer. For the past 15 years he was secretary-treasurer of Circleville Irrigation company, and recently was named a director of the Richfield Commercial and Savings Bank. Survivors include the widow, five sons and daughters, Raymond Whittaker, United States navy; Joyce Elaine Gayle, Dorothy and Larry Whittaker; his mother, Mrs. Arthur Whittaker, and four brothers and sisters, Mrs. Leah W. Wood, Mrs. Allie W. Gottfredson, Rex and Guy Whittaker, all of Circleville.

Souces: Richfield Reaper: Piute County News:

Louring was the first child born to Arthur and Mozetta Whittaker. It was very dear to his mother Louring had very religious nature and his mother had testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When he was less than twenty years old, he received a call from President Joseph Field Smith to go on a mission to far away Japan. This young man accepted the call and left Circleville with the blessings of his father and mother. He and several other missionaries were among the first to carry the Gospel to the Japanese people. The language was very difficult to understand, but Louring mastered it and became a wonderful ambassador to these people. He ate with them, partook of their hospitality, made many friends, preached the Gospel, and learned to love them. For he remained for four years before he was released to come home. During these years the mother wrote constantly to her missionary boy. Louring became quite a poet and sent his mother many nice poems which Mozetta cherishes very much. At last the time came for Louring to return home. Inasmuch as he was half way around the earth, he desired to go to the other half. So he wrote his parents and made his wish known. Arthur was so anxious for his return, and hism other felt like she couldnot endure his absence much longer. But they considered the time it would take for him to return the way he went to Japan and the other way to go around the globe. So they sent the money and told him to make the trip. He was a happy young man when he received his release and set sail for home. He visited Palestine where Christ lived and taught the Gospel to the saints of those days and where He was crucified and died for the sins of the world. He also visited Rome, Germany, and other places, and finally landed in England where he sailed for America. When he arrived in Marysvale, Utah, Arthur and Mozetta were there to welcome him home. Louring was home a little over a year when he and Fern D. Seong, daughter of Reben [p136] and Elizabeth A. Spencer Seong. They were married in the beautiful Salt Lake Temple on 22 June 1922, sealed for time and eternity by a man holding the Melchezidek Priesthood. [inset of picture from p138 Louring and Fern were married 22 June 1922 in the beautiful temple. ] They had a family of five boys and two girls, but two boys died in infancy. Louring and Fern made their home in Circleville near his beloved parents. Time wenton and a little boy made his appearance in this little home. They named him R-- [p137] Sterling, born 18 Mary 1923. Then later two little boys came who only lived a short time: Louring Ralph and Robert Sevy. On 7 November 1929 Joyce Elaine came, born in Slat Lake City. Then two years later another little boy came to brighten this little home, Evan Gail, born 7 February 1931. Dorothy Alice was born 5 January 1935. Louring at this time took a trip to Phoenix, Arizona where he came to see his Uncle Jim and Aunt Mary. He said, "We have the cutest little girl, and we named her Alice, Dorothy Alice. Sheis such a beautiful baby." Then a few years later another little boy came and made his abode with Louring and Fern. They could not decide on a name for their little boy. One day the father came smilinginto the bedroom and said, "I have a name for our little son. We will call him Larry and immediately everyone concerned agreed that Larry was his name. Louring loved his little children very devotedly. When Larry was about two years old, he was such a beautiful child with blue eyes and short curly hair all in little curls.After Louring and Fern were married, they bought the Old Vater home in Circleville and remodled it at different times until they had a nice modern home furnished in modern style. It isone of the nice homes in Circleville in the year 1946. While living there, Louring took an active part in both church and civic affairs of the county, community, and state. He served as the Piute County Secretary and Treasurer of the Circleville Irrigation Company for a period of fifteen years and was a director in the Richfield Commercial Bank. he was also active in church affairs. He was a boy scout leader in the Circleville Ward, also president of the Y.M.M.I. (Young Men's Mutual Improvement). On 22 May 1922 he was set apart as President of the Stake Mission of the Garfield Stake by Apostle Richard R. Lyman. On 26 August 1923 he was set apart as a member of the High Council of the Garfield Stake, a position he held for a period of twenty years. When Louring was on his mission, the good people of Japan taught him how to make a delicious dish. In order to make it, he had to have a certain kind of sauce. So when he went down to Phoenix, Arizona, he would go among the Japanese, have a chat with them, and come away with a big bottle of sauce. Nothing would please Louring more than to prepare this dish for his many friends, and they always pronounced it delicious, for he was so generous and thoughtful of his parents. Many a time, he would take a fishing trip and when he came home, he would always bring a big fish or two to his beloved mother. There was a bond of love between Louring and his mother. They seemed to idolize each other. When the eventide came and Louring was tired from the cares of life, hewould wend his way over to his mother's home and receive help and encouragement from his faithful mother's conversations. Louring was a heavy set man, not so tall, but well proportioned with hazel eyes and an abundance of dark brown hair. He was of slow movements and slowi n conversation, but firm and steadfast in his convictions. He was full of faith in the principles of the Gospel and was always ready to administer unto the sick when called upon, and he always had a good word for his fellowmen. When his family were growing into young manhood and young womanhood, Louring worked early and late to make a success of his undertakings. Early in the morning, he would be on his way "up on the mountains" to get a load of logs or poles to make his corral and barns warmer for the many dows he milked night and morning. He was a successful farmer and rancher, for he possessed many acres of land and herds of sheep and cattle. He was a busy man, but often took time off to go over and ask his father's advice concerning his investments.Louring continued to enjoy life in all of his activities untill the summer of 1943 through the winter of 1944 when his health began to fail. But he kept his fears to himself untill one day in January 1944, he said, "Fern, let's go down to Richfield and see Uncle Gray" (meaning Dr. McQuarrie). [p141] So they left little Larry with his grandma and motored to richfiled. While there in the hospital, Louring was struck with a cerebellum hemorhage (or stroke), and after a short time went unconscious. The sent for his mother and children, and he lingered on untill the next morning when he passed away, his beloved mother by his bedside and holding his hand. All of his relatives, friends, and neighbors were shocked to hear about his death and could hardly believe it. His beloved wife and children were almost unconsolable. They realized their husband and father had left them, and they had to face this world alone. But they had implicit faith in the word of the Lord and in His teachings in St. John 11:25 wherein Christ says, "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he life."In a short time the undertakers came and took the body to prepare it for the last ride to Circleville. Over the road where Louring traveled so many times in sunshine and in sorrow. He lay in state at his home, clothed in the robes of the Holy Priesthood, where many relatives, friends, and neighbors came to pay their respects to their life-long friend. Telegrams were sent to relatives who lived in other states. On 25 January 1944 funeral services were held for Louring A. Whittaker. The little church was full of relatives and friends. Many beautiful floral offerings surrounded the casket where the following program was given with Bishop James L. Whittaker in charge.

The program will go forward in the following order: A tribute to Louring, by Brother Ferdinand Erickson; Monroe, Utah. Song, "Lay My Head Beneath a Rose"; by Brother Bill Horton.Talk, by Bishop V.L. Cowley, a missionary companion of Louring; Venice, Utah.Song, "In the Garden of Tomorrow"; by Nola and Byrle Whittaker Talk, by Dr. J. G. McQuarrie; Richfield, Utah. Violin solo, "Perfect Day"; by Judd Haycock. Talk on Louring's life; by Douglas Cannon. Song, "I Know That My Redemmer Lives"; by C. D. Doty.

Lives of great men all remind us

 We can make our lives subline,

And, departing, leave behind us

 Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,

 Sailing o'er life's solemn main,

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,

 Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up an d doing,

 With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

 Learn to labor and to wait.

--Henry Wadworth Longfellow I sometimes think that Wadsworth had a glimpse of the eternity. The curtain was drawn aside and he glimpsed through when he wrote these beautiful words. May the Lord be kind to Sister Fern and her family, and lovely children, and his mother, brothers, and sisters. Through Him, alone, can come comfort and consolation and happiness. To say some things on this accasion would be the same as saying hollow words. If we are humble, seek God in prayer, I bear my testimony to you that he will hear those prayers and he will comfort you and give you consolation, and you shall know that you shall meet our Father again. It is my testimony to you that you shall meet him, and you shall know him as your Father. Christ, at one time, said, "I am the resurrection and the life: He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall live: And whosoever liveth and lbelieveth in me shall never die." Those are true words, the words of our Savior himself. I testify to you of their truthfulness, and they shall be made manifest unto you. May the Lord ever be mindful of them, I pray in His name, Amen. [sic]After the services were concluded, a long cortege followed the remains to the little cemetary just above the little town of Circleville where Louring spent his life among the hills and the people heloved. They silently lowered the remains of Louring A. Whittaker in the grave where the grave and the contents were dedicated to the Lord, requesting His watchful care to be over it untill the First Resurrection when Louring will come forth crowned with glory and eternal life. Louring left a wife and five children well provided for pertaining to earthly things. He also left two brothers, two sisters, and a dear lovely mother. Louring did all of his work in the temples. He was sealed to his beloved wife Fern and his children were born under the Covenant, and after his father passed on, he was sealed to his parents for time and eternity.

1.   Julia M. Bowman.