Herman Heath

Herman L. Heath, 94, passed away July 14, 2019 at his home surrounded by family following an extended struggle with Parkinson's disease.

Herman was born July 1, 1925 in the Sugarhouse area of Salt Lake City, Utah to William Marquet and Sarah Mae (Chidester) Heath. He graduated from BYU with a Bachelor of Science in Geochemistry. He later received his Master's degree from NAU in Vocational Education. He taught in Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Ponape, and Wake Island.

Herman eloped with Beula Grames to Las Vegas where they were married October 23, 1948. They were later sealed in the Logan Temple on July 12, 1971. She passed away on March 11, 1981. He then married and was sealed to Twyla George in the Logan Temple on June 5, 1981. He loved his family and did his absolute best to care for them and encourage them to succeed.

Herman loved temple service, geology, paleontology, astronomy, mining, flying, practical jokes, building with rocks, family, his dogs, and listening to old country western records.

Herman was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His life was one of service. As a boy, he worked as a ranch hand to support himself. He then served his country in the Marine Corps as a scout in a sniper platoon during WWII and the Korean War. Following the war, he worked in the coal mines supporting himself as he earned his degree from BYU. Upon graduation, he went to work for Union Carbide as a geochemist. This job had a lot of fieldwork and kept him away from his family, so he left that profession and became an educator. One of his teaching positions was on the island of Ponape where he also served an informal mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. From there he continued as an educator, especially loving to teach students from diverse cultures, and serving wherever he was needed in the church.

Herman is survived by his wife, Twyla Heath, Downey, ID; his children, Jeffery (Sandy) Heath, Clovis, NM; Kristena (Kent) Eden, Bluffdale, UT; Gail (Jesse) Heath, Tucson, AZ; Jessica (Dan) Kitterman, Flagstaff, AZ; Sarah (Tony) Juarez, Bullhead, City, AZ; Hannah (Robert) Hamilton, Caldwell, ID; Kantessa Heath, Chubbuck, ID; Kaselehlia Heath, Henderson, NV; 27 grandchildren, and 29 great-grandchildren.

Herman was preceded in death by his first wife, Beula Heath; a grandson, Joshua Heath; his parents and several siblings.

Funeral services for Herman will be held at 12 Noon, Thursday, July 18, 2019 at the Downey Ward Chapel, 310 E. Center Street, with Bishop Thomas Goodwin conducting. A viewing will be held from 10:30-11:30 AM, prior to the services at the church. His interment will follow at the Cambridge Cemetery, just north of Downey with Military Rites provided by the Marine Corps Honor Guard and American Legion and Auxiliary Post 21 of Downey.

Memories and condolences may be shared with his family online at wilksfuneralhome.com. We would like to express our gratitude to the Encompass Hospice staff, Downey First Ward members, the Downey community as a whole, and our friends and family.