Orson A. Harvey

Orson A. Harvey of Morgan, Utah, passed away peacefully and surrounded by loved ones on July 18, 2025, at the age of 94.

Born in Tridell, Utah, to James Burtrum and Ethel Diantha Glines Harvey. Orson was the seventh of nine children and grew up with deep roots in family, faith, love of country, and the red dirt of the Uintah Basin.

After graduating from Alterra High School, Orson began work at Hill Air Force Base before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1951. He honorably served during the Korean War where he sustained injuries that led to a three-month hospitalization and recovery in San Diego. He was honorably discharged in November 1953. He returned home to Utah where he reunited with his sweetheart and love of his life, Lois Inez Harmon, who he had met in 1951 and exchanged letters of love and courtship while in the Navy.

They married on May 24, 1954, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they built a life anchored in devotion, raising four children—Kevin, Colleen, Elaine, and Lisa—in a home filled with a focus on faith, service, integrity, hard work, and enduring love.

Orson pursued higher education at Utah Trade Technical College and later worked as a Quality Engineer for Sperry Engineering, which later became Unisys/L3. He retired in 1989 after 33 years of service, having traveled across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico for the company.

He encouraged Lois in her dreams and always met her where she was, letting her shine without needing to be in the spotlight himself. He didn’t care about being in front of a camera—but showed up fully behind the scenes in every meaningful way.

Orson was a quiet man, but never an absent one. A skilled problem-solver and self-reliant fixer, he came from a generation that repaired what was broken and never threw things—or people—away. His hands were rarely idle. Whether tending his perfectly maintained yard that never saw a single weed or blossom out of place or building a playhouse for his grandkids that would create core memories, Orson was meticulous and dependable. Never to be without a challenge, he embraced skiing in his later years, making treasured memories on the slopes with his daughter Lisa, brother Wallace, and niece Camille even though he had two bad knees from his service in the Navy.

A man of steady faith, Orson served faithfully in many callings within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including Elder’s Quorum President, High Priest Group Leader, and temple worker with Lois in the Ogden Temple. His legacy is one of integrity, quiet strength, service, and family.

Orson and Lois had many adventures over the years. In retirement, they became snowbirds, chasing sunshine in their trailer to Wellton and Sierra Vista, Arizona where they made many life-long friends. They served a mission in Cove Fort, Utah, an early pioneer fort with rich history and spiritual roots. He and Lois delighted in sharing the path to come unto Christ with hundreds of visitors from around the world. Orson had an unwavering testimony and had an incredible talent for weaving the gospel of Jesus Christ into every story he would tell.

Orson and Lois visited many countries with their daughters to include France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and the motherlands of Scotland and Ireland.

Orson’s talents were many, but his dinner rolls? Legendary. He would argue that he had followed the recipe on the back of the Gold Medal package, but no one could ever replicate the warmth, fluff, or secret magic of Grandpa’s bread. The same must be said of his fudge, his garden crops, his Thanksgiving turkey, and even his mailbox… which once featured red polka dots in the most Orson of responses to it being hit by a car.

Family was Orson’s life’s work and greatest joy. He was a devoted brother, father, uncle, and a fiercely loyal and protective grandpa, great-grandpa and great-great Grandpa. In the last few years of Lois’s life, he would make her breakfast every morning. Whatever she requested he would make. His handmade swing set—towering at nearly 20 feet—was the stuff of legend. Built for his grandkids and now beloved by their children, it was the first thing they’d run to upon visiting the farm. He spent hours pushing his grandbabies “to the moon.”

Orson made space for simple, profound memories: warm milk with bread and honey; underdog pushes on the swing-set; country breakfasts on the Fourth of July; popsicles when you weren’t feeling good. Attending his grand and great-grandchildren’s performances, games, matches and birthday parties. Being present and loving at each wedding and welcoming each new baby into the family. He always had time for anyone who stopped by for a visit and a story.

He wasn’t flashy, but he was generous in quiet ways. Christmas envelopes filled with cash, pounds and pounds of fudge to be shared with family and neighbors, toy trains circling his Christmas tree, and a kid’s table full of laughter at each family gathering all became family traditions, thanks to him. He loved without conditions, encouraged each of us right where we were, and adored each great grandbaby with fresh eyes and a playful smile.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Lois, and all eight of his siblings: Burtrum, Sarah Helen, Jay D, Dennis, Zona, Elma, Wallace, and George.

He also reunites with his son-in-law Clark, grandson Lucas, daughter-in–law Cheryl and many friends and loved ones who passed before him.

He leaves behind four children, Kevin James Harvey (Idaho Falls, Idaho), Colleen Shaw (Clinton), Elaine (Doug) Nielson (South Jordan), Lisa (Jeffery) Steffen (Paris, France), 15 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. Most importantly, generations of family have been shaped by his steady love and quiet strength.

To Grandma—Lois—we know he left a few things undone, but we saw how much he missed you. Be gentle with him. He’s home now.

To our Dad, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa, Great-Great Grandpa – our faithful, patriotic, patriarch, we miss you. But this isn’t goodbye. We look forward to your warm hugs when we get to meet again.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 1, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. at the Rock Church chapel, 10 W Young St, Morgan. A viewing will be held prior toe the service from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Internment will be at the Tridell Cemetery on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 12:00 p.m.