Dee Wayne Jolley
“The Thin Man”
Salina, Utah – Our kind and beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, Dee Wayne Jolley, at the age of 95 of Salina Utah passed away Sunday July 21 in Provo. He was born August 8, 1928, in Park City Utah, a son of Quincy and Odessa Petty Jolley. He was born and lived in Park City Utah until he was 9 years old. The family then moved to Price Utah until he was 10. He then talked his mother into letting him go and live with his grandmother and grandfather in Emery Utah. He lived with them until he was in the 10th grade. The family moved to Salina and he lived there for the rest of his years. He graduated from North Sevier High School, class of 1946.
He always wanted to join the armed forces like his brother Max. On his 18th birthday he joined the Army Air Corps. He enjoyed his service in the air force and was discharged on his 21st birthday after three years of service.
He then attended the University of Utah and Brigham Young University and graduated with his wife from BYU in 1952.
He married Bette Lee Christensen March 15, 1951, in the Manti LDS Temple. He was married for 68 years before Bette’s passing in 2018.
He is an active member of the LDS church and served in many callings. Some were: Elders President, financial clerk and many more.
He taught school in the North Sevier area for 35 years. He taught in the elementary grades and made lots of friends and students that he always remembered. He was a principal for 12 years, but he enjoyed the classroom more so. He taught students all the rest of his years until retirement.
Dee Wayne started the SEA (Sevier Education Association) credit union and was the treasurer for many years. The credit union is still going strong and growing every year.
He loved to hunt and fish. He enjoyed a special hunting trip in 1956, where he and his partner went hunting before school, it was snowing and they had to hunt the lower country. He harvested one magnificent buck which had a 42 5/8in. Spread. This won him a new car from Zinicks sporting goods big buck contest in Salt Lake City Utah.
He fished most of the west, but Fish Lake was his favorite lake and lake trout was his favorite fish. The last lake trout he caught was a 20 lb. fish (which was released) at the age of 93. He was featured in Outdoor Life magazine as sportsman of the year.
Dee Wayne is survived by his son: David (Jodi) Jolley of Salina; his grandchildren: Shay (Colony) Jolley of Hurricane, Brandon (Britney) Jolley of Richfield, Jessica (Jeremy) Abrams of Price, Kristie (Jace) St. Pierre of Salina, Heather Jolley of Salina; 17 great-grandchildren; sister: Larae (Dennis) Hicks of South Jordan.
He is preceded in death by a son, Gregory Jolley; a grandson, Shawn Jolley; brothers: Quincy Jr. Jolley, Max Jolley, sisters: Shirley Watkins and
Sandra Henson.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 12 Noon in the Salina LDS Stake Center, 98 West 400 North in Salina, where friends may call for viewing Monday evening, July 29, from 6 to 8 P.M. or Tuesday morning from 10:00 to 11:30 prior to the services.
Live streaming of the services can be found at: www.springerturner.com under Dee Wayne’s obituary about 15 minutes prior to starting time.
Burial with military honors accorded by the Salina American Legion Post #36 and the Utah Honor Guard will be in the Pioneer Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.
Online guest book at: www.springerturner.com
