Arthur Edway Redd

September 1, 1911 ~ October 26, 2008

Edway Redd, beloved father, grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully on October 26, 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was a long time resident and former mayor of Monticello. He and his wife, Ila, moved to San Juan County with their family in the early 1950’s.

Edway always had a story for every occasion, and enjoyed making others smile. He lived his life by the motto, “life’s just easier when you’re happy,” and he contributed much happiness to the lives of others. He will be dearly missed by his family.

He is survived by three children, Tom Redd (Carol) of Farmington, New Mexico, Arita Sparks (Bob) of Salt Lake City, and Kathleen Hendrickson (Hal) of Morgan Hill, California, 14 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Ila, their oldest son, Arthur, Art’s wife, Helen Summers, also of Monticello, and a grandson, Kevin Redd, as well as his parents, two sisters and a brother.

Edway was born in Fruita, Colorado, on September 1, 1911, the oldest of the four children born to Fannie Elaine and Oliver Arthur Redd. As a young man, he moved to Price, Utah, with his family, where he completed his schooling and started his lifetime career in the automobile business.

When he and Ila Kofford of Castle Dale, Utah, were married on November 17, 1930, they made their home in Price, where Edway continued to work with his uncle in Redd Motors. They were both very involved in the community, and Edway was an active member of the Masonic Lodge.

Edway moved to Monticello in 1950 to go into partnership with Charles Redd in the automobile business. He later bought the other half of the partnership. Both of his sons worked with him for a period of time.

In the late 1960’s, his son-in-law, Bob Sparks, returned to Monticello to work with Edway and they enjoyed many years of working together.

Edway joined the LDS church after moving to Monticello, and he and Ila were sealed in the Manti Temple in 1966.

In doing a Google search for Edway, it was fun to read minutes from the San Juan County Commissioners meetings that he had attended. In one entry from November, 1952, Edway told the commissioners that funds were available to build an airstrip in Monticello. The commissioners agreed that it was a good idea.

After retiring from the automobile business in 1980, Edway and Ila moved to St. George, where they remained active and involved in church and community affairs. They enjoyed traveling and socializing with the new friends they made there.

After Ila passed away, Edway married Mary Greene in August of 1997, and they had ten very happy years together. Mary passed away in January of this year.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 7, 2008, at the Holbrook Morturary, 3251 South 2300 East, in Salt Lake City. Interment will be in the St. George Cemetery. Online condolences to the family may be sent to them at: www.holbrookmortuary.com