Ben Batty

Ben Batty, 56, passed away of heart failure October 1, 2009 in Cedar City, Utah. He was born February 27, 1953 to Benjamin and Leah Kelsey Batty of New Harmony, Utah. Ben grew up in New Harmony, attending Iron County schools and graduating from Cedar High School in Cedar City, followed by graduation from Denver Automotive and Diesel school in Denver, Colorado. He married Nannette Atherley in 1974 and together they had five children: Benjamin Norman, Bill Burke, Nathan John, Colby Brook and Heather Nicole. Ben was a very kind, generous and hard working family man. He was loved and respected by all who knew him, not only for his honesty and integrity, but also for the service he rendered to his fellow men and women. Anyone who needed help in any way he was qualified to help, received it from Ben. Ben owned and operated Color Country Underground Utilities for the past 28 years in Southern Utah. He had a great love and respect for nature and enjoyed making his living by working with the land. He treasured his time in Alaska mining for gold with his mining partners, and was President of Northern Lights Mining from its inception in 1990. Ben loved hunting, fishing, four-wheeling, snowmobiling and shed hunting and usually came home with a pocket full of rocks, being an amateur geologist. He enjoyed the friends and hunting stories with the boys at Nocks Archery and his good friends at Main Street Grill - Gale, Nick and the boys. Ben quietly served the boys of scouts of scout troop 342 for over 21 years, ordering and preparing their scouting awards under the direction of Ken Davis. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and most recently served with love and tenderness, the four-year olds in their Sunbeam class. Bens deepest joy came from his grandchildren Christian and Dakota Batty and Felica and Hannah Medeiros. He is survived by his wife, Nannette, his children Benjamin, Bill (Amberley) and Colby (Darci) of Cedar City and Heather Batty (Craig Medeiros) of Hot Springs, Arkansas and a special brazilian daughter, Percilana (Brian) Munford of Denver, Colorado; grandchildren Christian and Dakota of Cedar City and Felica and Hannah of Hot Springs, Arkansas; brother Frank of Annabella, Utah. He is preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Leah, sister Ruth and son, Nathan John. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. at the Cedar LDS Stake Center, 400 South 155 East, Cedar City, Utah. Visitations will be held Monday, October 5, 2009 from 6-8 p.m. at Southern Utah Mortuary, 190 North 300 West, Cedar City, Utah and again Tuesday, October 6, 2009 from 9:30-11 a.m. at the Cedar Stake Center. Interment will be in the New Harmony Cemetery, all under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary.