Vernon Eugene Kartchner stepped into eternity Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, from his home in Taylor, Arizona. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 6, at the Love Lake Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 700 E. Love Lake Road in Taylor, with a viewing at 12 noon. Interment will immediately follow at the Reed Hatch Memorial Cemetery in Taylor. Eugene was the son of Byrtle Vernon Kartchner and Lilie Opal Teeter. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Ron Kartchner; a sister, Claudene Kartchner; a daughter, Gena Ann Rova; a son, Ralph Arthur Kartchner; and a great-granddaughter, Harlee Rea Dawn Kennedy. Eugene was born Oct. 18, 1938 in Taylor. He was the great grandson of original pioneer settlers, William Decatur Kartchner and Alexander Gilmore McCleve, who settled this area. He recently celebrated his 80th birthday, picking and juicing apples with his beloved family of children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends. When he was quite young and during World War II his family moved to California for about eight years before returning to this area, first to Woodruff and then back to Taylor. He grew up happy, playing in the creek, apple orchards, and in the hay, pickle, and sweet corn fields. He was really good at marbles and walking on stilts. At an early age he learned to do his chores and from his parents he learned how to work hard. It was said of him that when he was younger, no one could outwork him. He graduated from Snowflake High School and attended radio and television school in California. Later he received an Associate Certificate in Mechanics from Northland Pioneer College. He started working at Southwest Forest Paper Mill one month after they opened and worked there for 42 1/2 years, raising two families. Eugene enjoyed working hard, serving, mechanics, building, gardening, computers, family history, electronics, animals, learning and most of all, working with his family. He was easy to work with and his only question was “How can I help?’ He was the children’s favorite to get their splinters out. He was a loyal member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was married in the Arizona Temple in Mesa. In 2006, he served a mission with his wife, Mary, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were married nearly 38 years. In 1996 they had moved out to Heber to build a house. When they returned from their mission they also returned to their home in Taylor. Eugene is survived by his wife, Mary Douglass Kartchner; former spouse, Merlene Farnsworth; sisters, Eva Joyce Ward of Avondale and Lois Gayle Whiting of Medford, Ore.; sister-in-law, Karen Cluff Kartchner of Blanding, Utah and family; sons, David Eugene (Colleen) of Taylor and Leslie Ray (Linda) of Pipestone, Minn.; daughter, Julianna Marie Casemira Weeks (Mark) of Mesa; grandchildren, Felisha Hurst, Chrystal Smith, William “Billy” and Dillon Rova; Richard, Dale, Freeman, Michael and Brandon Kartchner; and Jared and Drake Weeks. His great grandchildren are, Katelyn Jean, Amelia Ann, Preston Jason, Brinlee Makette, Conner Merrit Hurst; Alayah Lynn, Conner Michael, Rockwell Easton Smith; Brogan William and Kreelyn Kaye Rova; and Chaelee Jo, McKenna Jean and Freeman James Kartchner, Quentin Richard, Brielle Elizabeth and Reed Vernon Kartchner. He was truly a deep down good man. “He was a great grandfather. He loved us and he loved his bib overalls!” Owens Livingston Mortuary of Snowflake handled the arrangements.
