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OBITUARIES
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NO OBITUARY NOTICES
WERE PUBLISHED IN
THIS WEEK'S EDITION
OBITUARIES FROM THE
JULY 15TH ISSUE
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Gordon Roy Lytle
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GORDON ROY LYTLE
April 30, 1922 – February 8, 2010
Gordon Roy Lytle was born April 30, 1922 to Roy Edwin Lytle and Edith Empey Lytle in St. George, Utah. He grew up on the ranch in Ursine (Eagle Valley), Nevada where he started ranch work at a very early age. His parents also started him on piano lessons, which would serve him well for the rest of his life. Roy and Edith had three children: Gordon LaRue and Ken.
Gordon attended elementary school in Eagle Valley and high school in Panaca, Nevada. He was a good student. He played piano in the High School Dance Band and participated in Football and Boxing. He played center and linebacker and served as team captain his senior year. Harold Hammond, Jack Blad, Lewis Price, John Bellingheri and Joe Mezzano were also on that team. Gordon continued playing in dance bands in Lincoln County for over sixty years, playing with many good musicians including Roscoe Wilkes, Don Phillips, Tuffy Klein, Bob Foremaster, Doug Liston, Mike Fogliani, Barry Bortman, brother Ken Lytle and many others.
Gordon graduated from Lincoln County High School in 1940 and attended Dixie College for two years. While he was at Dixie he met the love of his life, Betty Joe Morris. After he left Dixie he returned to the ranch in Eagle Valley continuing to court Betty and helping his father and grandfather on the ranch.
In 1943 Gordon joined the Army Air Corps where he served as a Radio Operator and Waist Gunner, first in B-17’s and later in B-29’s.
Gordon and Betty were married in 1945 while Gordon was still in the service. Betty and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Morris, traveled to Tucson, Arizona for the wedding. After the wedding and a very short honeymoon, Betty and her parents returned to St. George and Gordon returned to his duties with the Army Air Corps.
Gordon was honorably discharged from the service in 1945 and returned with Betty to Eagle Valley where they built a home and raised three children: Randy, Linda and Kim. Gordon worked on the ranch with his grandfather, father and brother until he was forced to take outside employment because the ranch was not large enough to support that many incomes.
Gordon worked various construction jobs as an equipment operator. He ran shovel for Allan Kirkman at the Perlite Pit, worked as a mechanic for Orr’s Garage in Pioche, welder for Combined Metals in Caselton and finally the Lincoln County Road Department where he worked up to Road Supervisor. He stayed with the Road Department until he was forced to take a medical retirement after an accident left him with a crushed pelvis. Gordon was not able to ride a horse after this accident but he continued to work on the ranch with his brother Ken and sons Randy and Kim.
Gordon loved to hunt and fish. The family enjoyed many outdoor activities especially hunting deer and looking for arrowheads. He liked to golf, but his two main loves were Horseshoes and Softball. His trophy cabinet in his house is filled with horseshoe and softball trophies that span over seventy years of his life. Many a batter in the Utah-Nevada area were embarrassed by his “Change Up”, which he learned to throw in the All Church Tournament in Salt Lake City in the 1950’s. His horseshoe expertise was learned through experience and practice. Gordon and his best friend and next door neighbor, Harold Hammond, would throw against their fathers and other “Old Timers: in Eagle Valley and eventually they became the winners. Gordon and Hal remained winners for the rest of their lives.
Gordon and Betty celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1995 and settled down to enjoy their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Their daughter Linda passed away in the summer of 2003. Son Kim followed in the Spring of 2004 and Gordon’s one true love, Betty, passed away on Thanksgiving Day 2004. Gordon remained at home in Eagle Valley surrounded by family and friends and his faithful dog Queenie who never left his side. Gordon passed away in Cedar City, Utah on February 8, 2010.
Gordon Leaves his son Randy Lytle & wife Toni, sister LaRue Walker VanAusdale, brother Ken Lytle & wife Donna, eight Grandchildren and fifteen Great Grandchildren, many Nephews, Nieces and Good Friends.
“No Matter What He Did, He Did It Well”
“We’ll Miss Ya “Gordy”
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