William James (Sam) Houston's Obituary
William James (Sam) Houston.
December 14, 1932 — August 12,2023
I was born on December the 14th, 1932 in Denver, Colorado on a very cold and winter day to Clifford James and Lula Kjerste Houston. My parents built a home in North Salt Lake and we moved there in 1946. I graduated from Davis High in 1951. I joined the US Naval Reserve on 21 February 1951 and was called to active duty on 4 Nov 1952 as a result of the Korean War. All of my active duty time was at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida serving as a firefighter and in special services.
I worked for one summer for Salt Lake City Parks Department as a laborer, cutting lawns and a helper on a truck where we hauled things to the parks and the zoo. Between my Junior and Senior year I worked as a kitchen helper at the cafeteria in Zions National Park. What a fun time it was. In the Spring of 1951, I started working at Hill Air Force Base during my senior year at Davis High School. I had enough credits to graduate and they needed workers to repair aircraft for the Korean War, so I would go to school in the morning and then work a full swing shift at Hill. I started in April of 1952, earning $1.45 per hour as an autopilot and instrument mechanic helper wage grade 5. I retired in 1988 as a Quality Assurance Branch Chief General Manager 13.
I met the love of my life, Marian M. Lyman, at Hill Air Force Base. We were married In the Idaho Falls Temple on 22 May 1965. Together we had five children, David (Wendi) Houston of Syracuse, Amy (Chris) Howell of Garland, Lyman (Jenna) Houston of West Haven, Ryan Houston of West Point, and Kelli (Michael) Figgins of Roy, 16 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. Being a father brought me great joy and I was grateful that our children never gave us many difficulties.
I had many interests including; creating things out of wood, flower gardening and working on cars. I spent a lot of time in service to my Savior as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have had many callings including Bishop of the Sunset First Ward and First Counselor in the Sunset Stake Presidency. I was blessed to be ordained a Seventy by the then apostle Thomas S. Monson. I have a strong testimony of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and am looking forward to returning to Him and having my family forever.
He was survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grand children; his sister Beverly Lucas of Sandy, his sister-in-laws Shirleen Quinn of Murray, Helen Mecham of Idaho Falls, ID and and Yvonne Lyman of Aberdeen, ID. He is also survived by many wonderful nieces, nephews and family members he cherished dearly.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 17, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the Sunset 5th Ward LDS Church, 2431 N 250 W, Sunset, UT. Friends may visit with family on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Premier Funeral Services in Roy, 5335 1950 W St., Roy, UT, and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Sunset 5th Ward Bldg. Interment, Syracuse Cemetery, 1250 S. 1000 W., Syracuse, UT.
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