Obituary of William Harris Devey
1931-2018
William Harris Devey (Bill), age 86, passed away Sunday, February 18, 2018, 3 days before his 87th birthday with his daughters by his side. He was born February 21, 1931 to John Henry and Alta Eleen Harris Devey and lived the entirety of his life in his beloved town of Alpine. He attended elementary school in the red brick school on cemetery hill and graduated from American Fork High school. He met and married the love of his life, Elaine Hancock, in the Salt Lake Temple on August 22, 1952. They were married for 60 years before Elaine’s passing in November 2012.
Bill was a loving, wonderful husband and devout father. Together he and Elaine were blessed to raise five sons and two daughters. They have 25 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren, who were the joy of their lives. As a young man he served 7 years in the Utah National Guard which led to a lifelong career operating heavy equipment for several construction companies. He was a very active member of the Alpine community that he loved so much. In 1965 he was asked to co-chair a beautification project that received national attention. In 1966 he began a political career serving on the city council and was elected Mayor of Alpine in 1970. After serving as Mayor he continued to spend countless hours volunteering to help the city and the people of the community. He was later hired as an employee for Alpine City and worked there in several capacities for the next 21 years until his retirement in 1995. It was a great honor for Bill and Elaine to be asked to be the Grand Marshalls in the Alpine Day’s city celebration. Bill was an active member of the LDS church and enjoyed serving in many areas. Bill loved his backhoe and tractors and enjoyed running large equipment; he also loved the outdoors and could usually be found gardening, hunting, fishing, camping, flying airplanes, snowmobiling or traveling with his family and friends. In their later years Bill and Elaine enjoyed snowbirding in Arizona where they made many new friends.
Bill could always be found doing for others. Before ever being asked to help he’d be found plowing, tilling or planting your garden. He’d plow the snow from your driveway and sidewalks before you could even get out to get it done. He was an incredibly strong man with a huge kind heart and was always such a great example of hard work, service and ingenuity. He spent his life loving, giving and helping everyone around him in so many big and small ways.
Bill will be lovingly remembered by his brother LaVerl (Glennis) Devey, brother-in-law, Mark Carroll and children, Duane (Julia) of Riverton, Daryl (Carren), Ron (Penney), Shirlene (Denzil) Jenks, Jalane (Paul) Ludlow, Blair (Nina) of Alpine. He was preceded in death by his parents John H. Devey and Alta Eleen Harris, sisters, Eleen (Ernest Urry), Thelma Carroll, Lucille (KD Mitchell) son, Brian Lee Devey; and grandsons, Steven Devey and James Jenks, and great grandson William Allman.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, February 23, 2018 at 11:00 am at the Alpine Stake Center, 98 East Canyon Crest Rd., Alpine, Utah. Family and friends may call from 6:30-8:30 pm on Thursday, February 22nd at the Anderson and Sons Funeral Home, 6141 West 11000 North, Highland, Utah, and from 9:30-10:30 am on Friday at the Stake Center prior to the services. Internment will follow the services at the Alpine City Cemetery.
We would like to express our gratitude to the hospice staff and nurses at Brighton Home and Health Care for all their love and care of our father over the past several months.
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