Howard Hastings
GREEN RIVER – Laurence Hastings, 90, bravely faced his death from a stroke Feb. 7, 2004 attended by his daughters.
Laurence was born Jan. 18, 1914 to Howard J. and Effie Beebe Hastings in Ainsworth, Neb. The family lived in Montana before moving to Green River in 1925.
Laurence married Genevieve Shaner, also of Green River in 1937. In 1941 they moved to Hawthorne, Calif. with their daughter, Alice (born 1938) and where their second daughter Karen was born (1948).
A graduate of Green River High School, Laurence continued his studies at Santa Monica City College. He was an engineer at North American-Rockwell working on technical bits for aircraft and space modules until he retired in 1979 when he moved back to Green River.
Residents and visitors to eastern Utah know Laurence as the caretaker of the “living history” ranch on the banks of the Green River, where the wooden waterwheel he built in 1940 continued to irrigate the fields until it was replaced by a metal wheel in the early 1980s. Laurence organized displays of antique farm equipment for public view and never tired of sharing his first-hand knowledge of how the equipment worked with visitors, for whom the concept of working the horse-drawn machinery must seem like something out of a western movie.
Laurence’s garden is decorated with his collection of sun-colored glass and a working, hand-cranked coffee grinder that was once part of his uncle’s dry goods store.
He is survived by a brother, Tommy; sister, Dorothy Ross; his two daughters, Alice Peterson, Santa Cruz, Calif.; and Karen Bartlett, Vancouver, B.C.; son-in-law, Stephen Peterson; grandson, Michael Felton, Calif.; and two great-grandchildren, Chanda and Garrett Peterson. Laurence was preceded in death by wife, Genevieve in 1972; and two sisters, Mildred Brock and his twin, Lois Francisco.
At Laurence’s request, a service will not take place. In lieu, donations in his memory may be made to the Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P.O. Box 60307, Grand Junction, CO 81506, the Canyon Lands Field Institute, P.O. Box 68, Moab, UT 84532 or charity of your choosing.
“The Making of Man”
By Rodello Hunter
The wheel turned and time was made
And ships sailed and tracks were laid.
The wheel turned and knives were ground,
And wagons rolled and gold was found.
The wheel turned and lands appeared,
And men had wings and stars neared.
Wheels turned, and turning did reveal
The wheel made man, not man the wheel.
William Reves
PRICE/SEQUIM, Wash. – William F. Reves, 92, passed away Jan. 29, 2004 in Sequim, Wash.
Born September 23, 1911 to George and Diva Fontaine Reves in Piggott, Ark. Married Vivienne “Bibb” Stephens in 1934.
Graduated from Piggott High School and then in 1933 from Hendrix College in Conway, Ark. Received his CPA credentials in 1942 and joined the U.S. Navy for the duration of World War II. Began his CPA practice in Price, where they remained until retirement in 1975 to Green Valley, Ariz. They enjoyed many years of golfing, fishing, camping and RVing throughout the western United States. One of his most prized accomplishments was helping to create the CEU Prehistoric Museum in Price. Moved to Sequim, Wash. in 1981.
Survived by daughter, Louise Woodward; grandchildren, great-grandchildren; nephews and nieces. Preceded in death by his wife; brother, Norman; and sister, Helen.
Family suggests contributions to the College of Eastern Utah Prehistoric Museum in his memory.