Christian Jay Roskelley, Jr

WEST POINT -- The trials and tribulations of this life have ended for Christian Jay Roskelley Jr., 63, though his family suffered a great loss when he died suddenly of a heart attack Sunday.

A quiet, gentle man with a big heart, Chris was continually striving to help those around him.

Born May 30, 1940 to Reta Johnson and Christian Jay Roskelley, he was born on his father's 20th birthday as the oldest son of seven children. He graduated from Weber High School in 1958 and left to serve in the LDS church's Southern States mission in 1959. He spent two years in the U.S. Army after he was drafted in 1962. Upon his return, he worked in the railyards.

He worked as an electic engineer at Hill Air Force Base for 31 years before retiring in 1997. He traveled the world for his work and was respected by his coworkers for his honesty and ability.

Chris married Alice Holtry December 21, 1966, though they later divorced. They had seven children together and now have 14 grandchildren.

Chris was a loving and adoring father who delighted in the talents and abilities of his children and who sought to continually teach them throughout his life. He had a love for learning that he passed on to those around him. A thoughtful scriptorian, Chris focused his learning on understanding the gospel and lending that knowledge to others.

Through his own diligence and example, he taught his kids the importance of responsibility and to have a strong work ethic. His compassion led him to shy away from speaking ill of others.

Though quiet and shy, Chris loved to spend time talking, laughing and counseling with his children. He always had a comforting hug to melt away their concerns. His blue eyes sparkled with happiness when his kids and grandkids were around him. He loved to work in his garden and to share his crop with others. From helping build houses to fixing cars, Chris enjoyed to work with his hands and to be productive.

Chris loved his mother dearly and strove to take care of her in any way he could.

As daddy, son, brother, neighbor and friend, Chris will be greatly missed.

He is survived by six of his children, Chris (Lorilee) of West Point; DeLynn (Lana) of Washington Terrace; Brett (Nicole) of Syracuse; Nicole (Gordon) of West Point, Lisa of Ogden and Sam of Layton, and 14 grandchildren. He is also survived by his mother of Roy and five siblings: Joan (Max) Fowers of Hooper; Gerald (Dawna) of Brigham; Stephen (Lorraine) of Downey, Calif.; David (Coralee) of Clinton and Janet Aston of Fredonia, Ariz. and a large extended family. He was preceded in death by his father, his brother, Harold Roskelley, and his son, Curtis Roskelley.
CemeteryWest Point Cemetery
Bluff Road
West Point, UT 84015
December 28, 2003
1:00 PM
VisitationMyers Mortuary - Roy
5865 South 1900 West
Roy, UT 84067
December 28, 2003
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
ServiceWest Point First Ward Chapel
4383 West 300 North
West Point, UT 84015
December 29, 2003
11:00 AM