Dean Udy Ottley, 96, son of Frederick Edward and Vivian Udy Ottley, died at home on March 24, 2021. He was born September 18, 1924 on his parent’s ranch in Elba, Idaho. Four sons and three daughters were added to the family. After Dean’s mother passed away, his father married Inez Lorraine Bennett. They had two more son’s and a daughter. Dean and his siblings learned to work hard and do their best to help their family survive in harsh times. His cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents lived nearby which made a close-knit family.
In 1944 Dean was drafted into the Navy Air Corps. Toward the end of
boot camp, his mother became ill and passed away. Dean had leave to
come home for the funeral. He returned to the service for gunnery
training, and was assigned to a Patrol Bombing Squadron. He served in
Colon Panama, Guantanamo Bay Cuba, and the Galapagos Islands. Each day
they would patrol the area looking for enemy submarines. Dean was
discharged from the Navy in May 1946, and went home to Malta, Idaho to
work for his uncle Orville Udy.
In November he was called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Great Britain. He served honorably for
two years and earned the nickname Little Bishop. When Dean returned
home, he met and fell in love with Margaret Gardiner. They were married
September 16, 1949. They had 5 children: Gary, Forrest (who died in
infancy), Janet, Richard and Curtis.
Dean heard about a GI land draw in the Columbia Basin and decided to
move to Washington. His brother Hugh was already living there, and
another brother Leo came later. Dean drove his family from Malta, Idaho
to the Columbia Basin in a pickup with a cow and a horse in the back,
pulling a small trailer house behind. He worked at the sugar beet
factory at night; and cleared the sagebrush, and farmed the sandy soil
during the day. They lived in the little trailer, hauled water, used an
outhouse, and bathed in the canal in the summer. A daughter, Janet,
was added to the family. Dean was a hard worker and Margaret was a good
manager which made it possible for them to have more success than
failure. Soon they were able to build a cinder block house and
attached the trailer to it. Later they built the red brick home and
moved out of the cinder block house. More acres and chores were added,
as well as two sons, Richard and Curtis. He had a flock of sheep for a
few years. Later he bought some cattle, eventually raising registered
Hereford cattle. When his wife Margaret was 49, she passed away due to
cancer.
Dean later married Gloria Gardiner. After Dean retired, his
son Gary took over the farm and cattle operation. Dean has always been a
strong, hardworking farmer, and devoted father and family man. He was
honest, kind, generous and contributed to the success of all his family
members. He served in many capacities in the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints and had a strong testimony of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ.
He is survived by his wife Gloria, his children: Gary (Amanda), Quincy,
Janet Thayer Quincy, Richard (Leslie) Panaca, NV, Curtis (Jennifer) San
Ramon, CA, Grandchildren: Amber(Darwin) Baines, Meghan(Aaron) Anderson,
Gretchen(Dane) Astle, Adam (Rachel) Ottley, Meredith Ottley, Matthew
Ottley, Drew (Jolene) Thayer, Evan (Terri) Thayer, Mark (Amy) Thayer,
Lindsey Thayer, Kayzha (Matthew) Chapin, Kenzie (Brandon) Harr, Kandace
(Michael) Hershey, Dean Ottley, Jacob Ottley, and Lauren Ottley as well
as 21 great grandchildren, sister Vivian Crosby, and brothers DeLoy
(Effie) Ottley, David (Charlene) Ottley and Robert (Janice) Ottley.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret, son Forrest,
parents, and siblings Harold, Leo, Hugh, Gwen, Maxine and Susan.
A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at
10:00 am from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1102 2nd
Ave SE, Quincy, WA.
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| Janet, Richard, Curtis, Gary |
Children
Gary and Mandy Quincy WA
Richard and Leslie Panaca, NE
Cuirtis and Jen San Ramon, CA
Janet and Mick Thayer Quincy WA