Obituary for Dean Ottley
Dean Udy Ottley
September 18, 1924 - March 24, 2021
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. Due to health restriction attendance of service is by invitation only. Service will be lived streamed a the following link: https://zoom.us/j/5097872521?pwd=a1B1K3VuZVE3Zm1ER2VvUzdHdVNkdz09
September 18, 1924 - March 24, 2021
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. Due to health restriction attendance of service is by invitation only. Service will be lived streamed a the following link: https://zoom.us/j/5097872521?pwd=a1B1K3VuZVE3Zm1ER2VvUzdHdVNkdz09