LaWayne Stratton Obituary (1938 - 2021)

Arvin LaWayne Stratton, 83, graduated from this life April 4, 2021 in Woodruff, Utah. LaWayne was born on February 10, 1938 in Hurricane, Utah to Arvin Vernal Stratton and Neola Shumway. He grew up in Cedar City, Utah where he graduated from high school, joined the National Guard, and served as a mechanic on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to Arizona/New Mexico. He learned to speak the Navajo language and gained a great appreciation and love for the Native American people and traditions. Even in his adulthood you could find him teaching his boys about the Native American rain dance. He married Margo Ann Lewis, on June 26, 1964 in the St. George temple. He worked as a talented and ingenuitive auto mechanic, machinist, and welder throughout the state of Utah, finally making a permanent home in Cedar City where they raised six children. He was involved in a career ending accident which left him partially disabled. Though it left him in much pain for the rest of his life, he found purpose through serving others, studying gospel books, and developing new hobbies like searching for petroglyphs. He loved being active outdoors. In his youth he ran his dad's farm, had a herd of sheep, was a bee keeper, rode and broke horses, fixed cars, and built trailers. He loved hunting, fishing, camping, and riding on his Harley Davidson. In his later years we referred to his walker as his "HARDLY a Davidson" and that was good enough for him. He decked it out with lights and a bell to give us all a good laugh. He loved to laugh and would go to great lengths to get a laugh out of others. He was known by his grandchildren as “Teasy Grandpa.” LaWayne is survived by six children, Tony LaWayne Stratton, Lisa Ann (Sellers), Shane Vernal Stratton, Monica (Iglesias), Melissa (LeBaron) and April (Varga), 25 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, his sisters, Manon, Tina, and Judy, his brother Ronald. LaWayne was preceded in death by his wife, Margo Ann Lewis, his father, Arvin Vernal Stratton, his mother, Neola Shumway, and his sister, Lila. Services will be held at Southern Utah Mortuary; 190 North 300 West, Cedar City, Utah on Saturday, April 10, 2021. 1pm viewing, 2pm funeral, followed by the graveside dedication at the Cedar Cemetery. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Arvin LaWayne Stratton, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.