Carlyle Johnson

Carlyle Gillies Johnson, 80, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother, passed away November 8, 2011 in Cedar City. Carlyle was born June 24, 1931 in Cedar City to Ivan and Orna Gillies Johnson of Parowan.Carlyle is survived by his wife, Fonda Marie Smith-Beckstead whom he married July 30, 1981, (later sealed in the St George Temple), six sons: Ronald (Deborah), Dennis (Debra Lee), Jerry (Ronda), Thomas (Kathy), Steve (Celeste), Brian, (Cecelia); three step-children: Monty (David) Cartwright, Warren (Charisse) Lewis, Brad (Angie) Lewis; 39 grandchildren and 40 great-grand children; three sisters: Cleone Rowley, Eleen Robinson, Lola Ann (Claude) Jones. Carlyle is preceded in death by his parents, Ivan and Orna (Gillies) Johnson, and two grandsons, Nathan and Brodie. Carlyle married Katrine Taylor in 1951; they raised their six sons in Parowan and later were divorced.Carlyle was a man of many talents and vocations"never afraid of new challenges. In the past he was employed at US Steel, Cedar City; as Parowan's policeman; as an electronic technician at North East Furniture; by Iron County when he and a few friends were instrumental in bringing TV reception to the area; as a guard at Nevada's Test site.Together, Carlyle and Marie erected an ore-crushing system at the Comstock known as the Iron Mountain Ore Company. They moved to Las Vegas where Carlyle was employed by Airway Products and Nevada Ready Mix for several years. After retiring they returned to Iron County, building their own home overlooking the old mine site"a view loved by both.Carlyle loved boating with his sons at Lake Powell, he was a thoughtful man, giving history and family books to anyone he thought interested; he was a kind, humourous, loving, helpful man. He will be missed.Services will be held on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 11:00 am at the Mountain View Ward, 370 North 4050 West, Cedar City, Utah. A viewing will be held Thursday November 10, 2011 from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Southern Utah Mortuary, 190 North 300 West, Cedar City, and Friday morning at the Ward Church from 9:30-10:30 am. Burial will be in the Parowan Cemetery following the services under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary.