Arthur Wilford Sorensen, Jr

Arthur Wilford Sorensen Jr.
August 11, 1920 - March 6, 2012

Arthur Wilford Sorensen Jr., 91, completed his time on this earth Tues., March 6, 2012. He was born Aug. 11, 1920 to Arthur W. Sorensen, Sr. and Katherine Van Dyle Sorensen. He had two sisters, Blanche (Grant Myers) and Ruth (Merrill Carlson) and a brother, George. Arthur was born and raised in Ogden where he had many pals who became cherished lifetime friends. He loved this area, its people, and thought it was the greatest place in the world.
Art attended Ogden High School and then Weber "Academy". He met his first wife, Roberta Wade, at a dance in Warren. It was love at first sight and they married just before he joined the Navy to serve in WWII. As part of the greatest generation, Art served his country in the South Pacific operating the dry-docks used to repair damaged warships.
Like his father and grandfather, Art worked his entire career for the railroad. He started summers in dining cars traveling between Los Angeles and Kansas City. He became a fireman on steam engines at 21 and was promoted to locomotive engineer at 31. He retired at age 63 after 45 years of service. He loved the Railroad and all his coworkers.
Art and Roberta were married for 27 years and had four children, two sons (Brent and Paul), and two daughters (Cheryl and Joy). They raised their children in Wilson/West Haven, and Art lived there until his recent illness. Roberta died in 1968 of cancer, and Art was a devoted caregiver and companion during her illness, rarely leaving her side.
Two years later, Art met and married the second great love of his life, Mercedes (Mercy) Budge, and became a father to her four children (Sarah, Cynthia, Merrill, and Matt), and she a mother to his. Art adored Mercy and they spent forty happy years together until their recent health problems forced them to live separately. Mercy now lives with her son Matt in Scottsdale, Arizona, and misses her sweet companion very much. Together, Art and Mercy have 24 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren for whom "Grandpa Artie" will always be a precious memory.
Art was a dedicated scoutmaster in Wilson for nearly three decades and earned the prestigious Silver Beaver award, one of the highest honors in the scouting program. He loved scouting and many of his former Eagle scouts have thanked him over the years for helping them prepare for manhood. Your appreciation meant a great deal to him.
Arthur loved his country, his city and his fellow citizens and was always donating his time and efforts to civic causes. During his prime, there was rarely an event in Weber County that you would not find Art behind one of his many grills, cooking up a feast to raise money for one special cause or another.
Art's more noteworthy civic endeavors include co-founding the Bona Vista Water Improvement District, where he served as it's publicly elected Board Chairman for 36 years. Retiring in 1992, his pioneering vision and efforts now supply fresh culinary water to approximately 20, 000 residents in Weber County. He deeply respects all the professionals who worked there.
Art's hobby and second vocation was repairing and painting cars. He could fix or build just about anything. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and creating metal-art, winning several blue ribbons at state and county fairs.
Awards and accomplishments tell a lot about a man, but they do not begin to represent who Arthur was. He spent nine decades being a friend to all, the best kind of neighbor, a loving and devoted husband and a father who taught generosity and equality by example. For him, honesty and honor didn't make you a hero, they made you a man. The world was a better place while he was here, and he'll be greatly missed by all of us who love him.
The family would like to thank Art's many friends, neighbors, extended relatives and in-laws who were always inquiring how he and Mercy were doing. He appreciated all of you. We are grateful for the friends and caregivers who helped make Arthur's life more comfortable especially Pat, Betty, Faith, Adrienne, and the staff at Emeritus and Heritage Park care centers.
Arthur is survived by his beloved wife Mercy, his sons Brent Sorensen and Paul Sorensen (Jayne Holt), his daughters Cheryl Chambers (Dave) and Joy Wise (Steve), and his stepchildren, Sarah Graham (Johnny), Merrill Budge and Matthew Budge. He was preceded in death by one stepdaughter, Cynthia Budge Petersen and one granddaughter, JoDee Petersen.
A celebration of Art's remarkable life will be held on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 11:00 am at Myers Mortuary, 5865 S. 1900 W. Roy, Utah. The family would like to meet and share memories with friends and relatives Monday, March 12, 2012, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm and Tuesday from 9:45am to 10:45am, prior to services.
Interment will follow at the Warren Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, and in Art's honor, send a bouquet to someone who would enjoy being remembered or contribute to your favorite charity.
Send condolences at www.myers-mortuary.com
VisitationMyers Mortuary - Roy
5865 South 1900 West
Roy, UT 84067
March 12, 2012
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
ServiceMyers Mortuary of Roy
5865 South 1900 West
Roy, UT 84067
March 13, 2012
11:00 AM
CemeteryWarren Cemetery
750 North 6700 West
Ogden, UT 84404
March 13, 2012
12:30 PM