Utah News From The Daily Herald Newspaper
By Daily Herald Daily Herald | Posted: Wednesday, April 28, 2004 12:00 am
Francis Earl Haskell, 81, passed away Sunday April 25, 2004, from complications of a stroke, at Mountain View Hospital. He was born September 30, 1922, to Leo Earl and Matilda Hanks Haskell in Salem, Utah. He was raised on the family farm East of Payson and graduated from Payson High School. He then joined the Navy during World War Il and became a Navy Pilot, flying a cargo plane over the South Pacific.
After the war, he married Lois Singleton, on March 6, 1946, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they had five children, one daughter and four sons, Susan, Lee, Billy, Kent, and Dan. He cherished his family and felt it important to take them on a family vacation each year. Lois passed away December 26, 2001 and Francis remarried Marlene Lance Gross on March 9, 2002. He loved to work. He worked at the Payson Post office for 35 years. He was a mail carrier, a clerk and Postmaster for several years. He was also a farmer of 120 acres and ran a cattle ranch of 100 head of Polled Herefords. He knew the importance of work and taught his children the same. He also served as President of the Payson Chamber of Commerce for four years. He also loved to hunt and fish. He and Lois bought a boat and a cabin in Strawberry and loved to spend vacations and weekends there. She would read or crochet while Francis would try his luck at fishing. Later in life when he couldn't work as much he loved to sit in his favorite chair and read the newspaper. He never missed a good ball game on TV and was always a good arm chair coach. He and Lois talked often about the great days they had together watching their boys play ball. Francis loved his cattle herd and would spend many sleepless nights helping them deliver their new born. He loved working the earth and would plow until dark, only quitting because the tractor had no lights. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served in many positions, such as Scout Master, Priest Advisor, Young Men's President, High Priest Instructor, and Stake Financial Clerk. He was also called as a Seventy (Stake Missionary) and loved teaching the gospel to nonmembers for serval years.
He is survived by his wife Marlene, of Payson, daughter Susan (Neil) Lund of Murray, sons Lee (Maxyne) Haskell of Elk Ridge, Kent (Julie) Haskell of Elk Ridge, Dan (Tina) of Stockton. Step children Ken (Jerry) Lance of Spring Lake, Charlotte (Gary) Green of Fruit Heights, Stan Lance of Payson, and Jolene (Mike) Holbrook of Kaysville. Twenty-six grandchildren and four great-grand children. A sister Leona Close and a brother Dwane Haskell both of Payson. He is preceded in death by his wife, Lois, of 55 years, a son, William (Billy) Haskell and a granddaughter Amy.
Funeral services will be held Thursday April 29, 2004 at 11 :00 am in the Mountain View 9th Ward Chapel, 1128 East 100 South, Payson, Utah. A viewing will be held Wednesday evening April 28, 2004 from 6-8 P.M. at the Walker Mortuary, 587 South 100 West Payson, Utah and one hour before the funeral service on April 29, 2004 at the Mountain View Chapel. Burial will be in the Payson City Cemetery with Military Rites accorded by the American Legion, Dist. #4.
