DIXON JOHN FARLEY~~~ A TRUE SUPERHEROE

 

Dixon John Farley

April 23, 2010 — May 5, 2026

Mount Pleasant

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Dixon John (DJ) Farley, of Mount Pleasant, Utah passed away in his family’s arms on May 5, 2026 at Primary Children’s Hospital. He was born April 23, 2010 in Nephi, Utah. Dixon suffered from a severe genetic form of epilepsy starting when he was 4 years old. Dixon always wanted to be a superhero and with the gift of his organs being donated to and gratefully received by others, his life will go on. We hope they are ready to be superheroes too, because Dixon has always been a superhero. From the time he was a toddler, he could pick out people who needed his superhero hugs. He would insist that complete strangers would let him hug them, and you could just watch the stress and worry and anxiety leave their bodies. He gave us that gift up to his final breath. THAT, is a true superhero!

Most people didn’t understand the depth of Dixon’s intelligence and personality. He was a prankster and loved jokes, but he was also a very deep thinker. He didn't just blindly believe what he saw or read — he questioned everything with adults whom he trusted and then formed his own belief system and understanding of life and beyond. Even though Dixon was often bullied, ignored or just misunderstood, he never held a grudge against anyone. He was a living example of turning the other cheek. He enjoyed hanging out with his cousin, Payton Johansen; they were like brothers. He adored his cousin John Wayne Oldroyd and looked forward to spending time with him during school holidays. Dixon was comfortable at home, but he liked spending time camping with his family, hiking and going fast with his dad in the side-by-side and riding and grooming horses with his mom. Being a typical little brother, he delighted in pushing his sister Dannie’s buttons but he knew that she would always have his back. He always had a project to keep the adults in his life busy creating and building things with him. Dixon’s honorary Uncle Colter and Auntie Teasha spent much quality time with him hanging out doing everything from playing video games to ghost hunting in the cemetery after dark.

Dixon’s epilepsy made him think more deeply and respond more slowly than many of his peers. Luckily, his first teacher was “Miss Debbie” at Head Start, who was patient and caring and taught him in a way which he understood and she wasn’t afraid of hugging him. Tara Syme was the only one of Dixon’s teachers in middle school who allowed him to learn at his own pace and she taught him to love history. Dixon finally came into his own in high school. Cami Christensen and her SPED team finally gave Dixon an educational home with expectations, boundaries and the opportunity to learn at the highest level he was capable of. He felt secure in this environment — he made friends, he participated in sports, he was invited to the Preference Dance and was great friends with Boston Toomey, who always treated him as just one of the guys.

Dixon is survived by and will always be cherished by his family: his mother, Sydnie Farley; his father, Seth Farley; his sister, Dannie Farley; and his grandparents, Danny and Marles Oldroyd and Dixon and Beverly Farley. Dixon is also survived by his uncles, Justin Farley and his wife Stacy, Weston Farley and his wife Savannah, and John Oldroyd and his wife Jo; as well as his aunties, Amanda Alejandro and her husband Vic, Donnell Johansen and her husband Ben, and Megan Jessop and her husband Samuel, and a wealth of cousins. During his time in the ICU, Dixon was surrounded by his grandparents and his many aunts, uncles, and cousins from both sides of the family. This outpouring of love, support, and kindness is an ongoing gift to the family.

Memorial Services were held on Saturday, June 6th at 1:00 pm at the Wasatch Academy Music Conservatory (formerly the First Presbyterian Church), which is located at 92 South 100 West in Mount Pleasant, Utah.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, please donate to:

Donor Connect at (801) 521.1755 Info@donorconnect.life OR

The Epilepsy Foundation of Utah (801) 332-1000

To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.

BOOK OF MT. PLEASANT ~~~ AUNTY HYDE SCHOOL ~~~HILDA MADSEN LONGSDORF

 

MT. PLEASANT ELEMENTARY CIRCA 1952)

 

WASATCH ACADEMY REVERAND ARTHUR BOAND RECOLLECTIONS OF 1920S ~~~ (Taken from LouiseJohansen's Scrapbook)

 

Mt. Pleasant History

 

BIRTHS:
Isaiah Cox, son of Issiah and Henrietta James Cox, born June 5, 1859. The family had just arrived at Mount Pleasant, and was camped in a covered wagon, on the banks of Pleasant Creek.
Edward Dalley, son of Edward and Elsie Aldrich Dalley, born
July 27, 1859.
Mc Carl Johansen, son of Peter and Annie Christina Johansen,
born September 5, 1859.
Joseph Beck, son of Hans C. H. Beck and Maria Rasmussen
Beck, born September 8, 1859.
Cinthia Nielsen (Mrs. D. R. Fitger), daughter of Fredrick and
Christina Nielsen, born August 15, 1859.
Sarah Jorgensen (Mrs. James Borg), daughter of Jens and
Christina Jorgensen, born September 18, 1859.

MT. PLEASANT CITY COUNCIL ~~~1896-97

 

HOME OF JACOB CHRISTENSEN INGER CHRISTINA THOMPSON AND INGEBORG ANDERSON ~~~ from our archves

 

HAMILTON ELEMENTARY BEGINNING ~~~ History by Janice Nielsen

HAMILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 

 

The settlement of Mt. Pleasant began like the settlement of most colonies in Sanpete. Although the first settlers labored diligently, their efforts were often demolished. But with much determination a group of sixty from Fort Ephraim surveyed a Fort site and planned a colony on Pleasant Creek and finally succeeded. The Fort was very well planned and organized. Because these sturdy pioneers had been schooled in crafts and many professions in their native lands, a log one-roomed schoolhouse was included in the fort. A.B. Strickland, (it has been said he was also very strict) and Mrs. Oscar Winters served as the first school teachers in the fort. The schoolhouse was also used as a chapel, theater, dance hall, and meeting place. At one end was a huge fireplace which provided heat, and light. Even though the floor was dirt, young and old liked to dance to the music of violins; the bishop's stand was often converted to a stage for a Shakespearean drama. The school was a center of community activity. Because they had been taught well the fundamentals of living and survival, they used the environment to work at their command. Regardless of Indian aggression, homes sprang up and schools soon dotted the town site in various homes. "Aunty Hyde"s school was the first built outside of the fort. "Aunty Hyde" was a very interesting person who was most often attired in a dark-colored bonnet and smoked a pipe. She did not use a bell but brought her children to school by calling "to books, to books, to books." She often prepared her evening meal at school in the fireplace, making it very difficult to study with all the aroma. The schoolroom was situated one half block west of the present High School. (This was in 1980, the present high school is 500 East and 700 South.) There became other classes held throughout the town and tuitions were paid by the parents. the few books that were available were also paid for by the parents. At this time classes were not graded as they are now but went by readers first; the primer reader, next; first primer reader, second, third, fourth and fifth. (If one completed the fifth reader, he was considered educated as the material was very hard.) Practice writing was done on slates. Children rarely got to school before Christmas as school was a secondary consideration. It was the same in the springtime as soon as the ground was bare, work on the farm began and had preference over school. So most school seasons did not exceed four months. Methods and practices started changing as teachers were getting degrees from college and universities. During this time Sister Margaret F.C. Morrison was able to place an organ in her school and music became to be an important part of the curriculum. Schools and ward houses were still used in conjunction with one another. Educational advancement was always in the uppermost mind of the people of Mt. Pleasant. The old houses used as school buildings located in different districts of the town were abandoned and a central school was established in 1896. It was a beautiful three story school building, erected on the corner of Main and First East Street at a cost of about $20,000. The new school was called Hamilton Elementary, probably getting it's name from one of the first attempted settlements led by Madison D. Hambleton. (This name was later changed to Hamilton.) It was indeed a happy day for the settlers to have such a fine, large modern building in their city. This school sometimes housed grades up to the 8th grade and had anywhere from 350 to 600 students at one time. (This building was not used as a church either.) The outside walls were made of blocks of rock and red brick with four regular classrooms and a few smaller rooms on each floor. One of the smaller rooms on the 3rd floor was used as the library and housed the ladder to get up to the belfry. One of the walls seperating the library from one of the other rooms could be rolled up like a roll top desk to make an assembly room. Later, this wall was nailed down. It seemed the 3rd floor was a poor place for an assembly room. This new school had blackboards which were easy to write on and easily cleaned. Until about 1942 the restrooms were out in a separate building to the south of the main building. Later the supply room on the 2nd floor was converted into the restrooms. At that time they were called "toiletrooms." In this same separate building, the meals were prepared and brought to the school on a big cart pulled by the cooks. School lunch program was introduced during the 1930's. One hot dish of soup or chowder was served for a penny a bowl. Every student donated a bowl and spoon to the school for this purpose. Students usually brought a sandwich or something else to go with it. When in Kindergarten each child brought his own milk. The belfry housed the bell which was heard all over town because of it's remarkable tone. People often set their watches or clocks to the sound of the bell from the elementary school. It was used as 9:00 p.m. curfew, warning of fire, flood, other special occasions because it could even be heard beyond the city limits. It rang with much force. In fact, if you were on the 3rd floor when fire drill was called, the building actually swayed. It was rung on a pull on a big rope that hung from it to the teacher's entrance on the first floor. A smal gong attached to the side of the stairs was rung by a little jerk on a small chain. Sixth grade students felt it an honor and an important position to be assigned to answer the telephone in the Principal's office and to ring the gong for class change and to ring it other scheduled times. The little bell became used for the fire drills. Fortunately there was never a fire in the school building even though the students loved the fire drill especially if they were on the third floor because they had the privilege of sliding down the three story high fire escape with it's spiraling curves. Often in the summer or after school hours a favorite pastime was climbing up the slide and going down. It was worn very shiny and the metal was actually worn thin. It would appear that a million students had escaped fires in the Hamilton School. This bell has been preserved by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers and put on display on the top of the Pioneer marker on the north side of the Pioneer Relic Hall in Mt. Pleasant. A piano was placed on the 2nd floor. With a gong from the bell, the students were called from their play on the school ground and lined up by their assigned door. Each class lined up in threes and to the rhythm of the piano marched to their classrooms. If anyone got off step or goofed up they were to put in time after school in the awkward squad. Thus it was necessary for everyone to learn how to march left, right, and how to keep time. All were expected to do this. Again, when every one was marching to the beat, the sway of the building could be felt. Children were excused with about the same procedure. Those who lived on farms outside of Mt. Pleasant, would wak to the county road where they would be picked up by a canvas covered wagon. The wagon was pulled by two beautiful big, well mannered horses owned and driven by Lawrence Barton who guided them with love, not whips. About twenty students rode in the school wagon and were among the first to be at school. Later, school buses replaced the horses. Another incident which most of the senior citizens remember about their days in school was the double tragedy of death of the Principal and Janitor. On the morning of March 24, 1922, Principle Elmer Johansen and Janitor Kanute Terkelson were both accidentally electrocuted on the landing at the top of the steps to the furnace room. (more details in a future post.) Through Japan's sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, our nation was plunged into a bitter struggle that lasted until 1943. The teachers and students loyally supported drives to buy thrift stamps and war bonds were purchased by the teachers and students. Tons of scrap metal were hauled to a spot out by the furnace room. In one of the rooms that was a restroo, was piled up end to end with bundles of old newspapers and other papers in the paper drive to help the war effort. Many special events can be remembered such as the annual "May Day" held outside so the May Pole could be braided and all grades danced a special dance. A spring dance festival is still held where all children participate. Hamilton had a well groomed band which often played for some of the town special events and were often invited to march in various parades through the state. After serving as the public schoolhouse for Mt. Pleasant for over sixty years, it became necessary to get a new schoolhouse for Mt. Pleasant. It was built on the same block as the Hamilton School on the south side; so the old one could be used until completion of the new one. This new building was completed in 1962.

 (Each era has its own memories of Hamilton Elementary School. Those memories listed in the above history are not the same as mine. However, we thank Janis Nielsen and others for preserving this history. We would like to hear your memories. Please share with us your thoughts and remembrances.)

HOME OF Charles Jacobsen and wife Grace Maggie Candland ~~~Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee (From our archives)

 

ENN ESS AITCH ~~~1930

 

PIONEER DAY (UNKNOWN YEAR) BUT WE HAVE NAMES OF THOSE IN THE PICTURE

 

 

1940William2025

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William Clark Shelley

July 23, 1940 — December 25, 2025

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William Clark Shelley, or Clark was born July 23, 1940 to Elmer J. and Rega Clark Shelley in Mountainville, Utah. He was the second of ten children. The first of three boys and brother to seven sisters. Clark spent his early years working the farm with dad. When he turned nineteen he joined the United States military serving in the Army as Marksman. His hard work and service earned him two Good Conduct Medals as a Sharpshooter as well as from the National Defense Service. He was honorably discharged in April 1967.

Clark earned an associate degree from Snow College and began work in Salt Lake as a RV mechanic repair technician. He later married Vivian Kathleen Bawden in the Manti Utah Temple and became a step-father to her two children Bryan and Maria.

After retirement Clark moved back to live in the home he grew up in and became dedicated to family history work. He provided thousands of names to family members and the Church for Temple work. He also taught community members around him how to research their own family history and prepare names for the Temple.

Clark has always had a gentle and generous heart. In addition to family history, in the last years of his life Clark developed a love of sewing. His first attempts were rough but before long he was

quickly completing hundreds of chair cushions, eyeglass cases, and quilts. His creations were quietly and lovingly donated to those in need.

Clark loved his family. He would write in his journal about the gratitude and joy he felt spending time with them. While he and Kathy were not blessed with additional children, we are grateful for the promises of continued and eternal families in the eternities. He passed away quietly in his home December 25, 2025.

He is survived by his siblings: Veone Ontiveros (Limhi), Linda Davis, Patricia Bills (David, Susan Allred (Phillip), Douglas Shelley (Julie, Leslie Arnoldson, and Sara Johansen and stepson Bryan Christensen.

He was preceded in death by his wife Kathy and step daughter Maria Christensen. As well as parents Elmer and Rega, brother Darrell, sister Colleen Robinson and brother-in-laws, John Davis, Gary Arnoldson and Tommy Johansen.

Sarah Rene Johansen

 

Sara Rene Johansen

August 23, 1956 — December 31, 2025

Chester Tooele

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Sara Renee Johansen (Shelley) was born August 23, 1956 to Elmer J. and Rega Clark Shelley in Mount Pleasant, Utah. She was the seventh of ten children; sister to three boys and six girls.

Sara grew up in Mountainville Utah where she enjoyed the family farm. She graduated high school and met John Christensen where she later gave birth to her son Brad. She later Married Kenneth (Ken) Mitchell and birthed two additional children Rebekah and Erin. In 1991, she Married Tommy (Tom) Johansen and gained two additional step daughters Jackie and Michelle.

Early in her marriage, Tommy had a heart attack while on a family camping trip. It was later discovered he had health problems resulting from his service in Vietnam. She then became a full time Mother and caretaker. Tommy passed away in 2013.

Sara met Lance Moore in 2016 and they quickly became inseparable. While not married it was clear they loved and took care of one another.

Sara loved being a full-time homemaker as she had a passion for sewing, baking and candy making. She crafted blankets, quilts, teddy bears, clothing, and more for family, friends, and strangers that stopped by. She always had a fresh loaf of bread, or a plate of cookies to share. A home-made dinner was always prepared for her family like clockwork- always by five and never after six.

Sara loved all music genres and singing. Family drives were often slow and singing to music was encouraged. She would call and sing to her children on their Birthday’s almost every year. She loved her children and family.

Sara had a funny way of ending a phone call. It was never a goodbye, only talk to you later, love you; that would carry on for another three or more rounds. Sara loved others easily and had a heart for everyone who crossed her path.

She is survived by her siblings: Veone Ontiveros (Limhi), Linda Davis, Patricia Bills (David), Susan Allred (Phillip), Douglas Shelley (Julie), and Leslie Arnoldson, and children Rebekah Adams (Scott), Erin Bodily (John), and step daughter Michelle Johansen and partner Lance Moore.

She was preceded in death by her husband Tommy, Ex-husband Kenneth Mitchell, son Brad Christensen, and step daughter Jackalyn Johansen. As well as parents Elmer and Rega, brother’s Darrell and William (Clark), sister Colleen Robinson and brother-in-law’s, John Davis, and Gary Arnoldson.