Rolland Elison

Rolland J. Elison

Rolland J. Elison peacefully passed away surrounded by family on November 25, 2021, leaving behind a legacy  of Christ-like love, gratitude and kindness. Rolland was born on November 7, 1926, in  Groveland, Idaho, to  Horace Elison and Katie (Hale) Elison. He was the fifth of nine children.

Rolland was raised on a farm and was a true farm boy through and through. His earliest memory is of his father  bringing home a 2-year-old mare that he had bought at the auction and telling Rolland he could break the horse  at  age 5. That same year, he learned to milk a cow. He was assigned various duties around the farm from the  time  he could walk. He loved working hard and spending his free time in the countryside. Rolland was known  for his  work ethic and ability to constantly serve.

Upon graduating high school, Rolland enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served during World War II. His selfless decision to fight for our country during a time of need has always been very admirable to all of his  children and grandchildren. That selfless decision is a reflection of who he was as a person, always wanting to  help out. His ship was in the Panama Canal when they received the news that the war was over. When asked  what he was going to do upon returning home, he stated that he was going to marry a redhead, and that he did.

He married Leah Williams on June 20, 1947, in the Idaho Falls temple. Together they were blessed with four  children,  18 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren, all of which made him  the happiest dad and grandpa in the world. Family was everything to Rolland, and his actions showed it!  He did anything and everything he could to serve his family out of love, expecting nothing in return. When  asked how he has been successful in his life, Rolland joyfully replied, “I’ve been able to provide for my family. I’ve been a faithful member of the church and served the Lord. I’ve been healthy enough to work and to serve  my people.”

Rolland was a very faithful and devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  He dedicated much of his time, efforts and resources to various church callings. He served as an ordinance  worker in the Ogden, UT temple for many years and spent much time indexing.

Rolland enjoyed camping and spending time in nature and the mountains, Island Park has always been a family  favorite and holds many memories for our family. He enjoyed gardening and working in the yard, and doing  projects around the house. He loved supporting his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in their  various sporting and other activities and could always be heard cheering the loudest from the sidelines. He had  a beautiful singing voice and enjoyed singing in choirs, and in his earlier years, duets with his sisters. He loved  reading his scriptures and other church books, listening to old time music and the Bar J Wranglers, and watching  a good horse race on tv. His favorite activity was tending his grandkids and great-grandkids and could usually  be found napping while snuggling them in his favorite chair. He devoted his life to serving and loving those  around him, most especially his family and we are grateful he was able to accomplish that right up until his last moments, as that was something he always prayed for.

To say Rolland will be deeply missed, would be a great understatement. Everyone who met him, instantly was  drawn to him. To know him, was to love him. He had a very, very special spirit and anyone who had the chance  to know him can attest to that. We all find much comfort and reprieve in the knowledge of our Heavenly Father’s  Plan of Salvation. We are grateful to know that families are eternal and that we will be reunited with our sweet  father/grandfather, brother and friend.

Rolland is proceeded in death by his wife, Leah (Willams) Elison, his parents Horace and Katie Elison, five  siblings:  George Elison, Reava Stevenson, Beth Elison, Shelda Belnap, and Vonnie Mae Ellis, a son-in-law Kent Chard,  and a grandson Shelby Elison. He is survived by his four children: Rolly (Lynn) Elison, Craig  (Louise) Elison, Debra Elison, and Michele (Todd) Lunt, 3 siblings: Katie Staley, Delos Elison and Gloria Carter, 17  grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren, and two great great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday December 4, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at the Walnut Grove Ward LDS meeting  House  535 W 2700 S Syracuse, Utah. Friends may visit family Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton  Mortuary,  1867 No. Fairfield Rd., Layton, Utah and Saturday from 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at the church.

Rolland’s services will also be live streamed via a YouTube link, https:// youtu.be/tQqxwyI0J4M

Interment, Lindquist Cemetery 1867 N Fairfield Road, Layton Utah