Giles Florence, Sr. Obituary (1923 - 2017)

Celebrations and high-spirited gatherings on the other side began just before midnight last Thursday, December 14, 2017when he burst on a heavenly scene. They likely saw him coming, with that big smile and cowboy hat tilted just right. Our husband, dad, grand- and great-granddad energized any room he entered, as his contagious personality overflowed with his love for life, for food, for music, for fun—but especially for children. Business associates admired his vigor and passion as a gifted salesman and deal-maker, known to outwork any ten men. He dreamed big, beginning his professional career in insurance, where he rapidly rose to top-producer, then executive; then on to mergers & acquisitions; then land development, and ultimately to gold mining, his final deal. Born September 6, 1923 to Henry Samuel and Abigail Amanda Hintze Florence on the family dairy farm in Holladay, Utah, the fifth of eleven children. Giles took ownership of the farm when his father purchased the Alpine Rose Lodge in Brighton, Utah. Giles then went to seek his fortune in insurance and start a family of his own. Like many of his generation, his work took him to six different western states and Hawaii in pursuit of the next big deal. In each new home his family grew. He and his first wife, Joyce, had five children. It was while working in Hawaii that he married his second wife, Ululani, with whom he had three more children and helped raise her two. He met Nona Skidmore of Salt Lake, who danced into his life on New Year’s Eve in 1983. They married December 1, 1988, and he became a loving step-father to her four children. With her background in insurance, Nona made an ideal partner with many shared interests and tastes. A lifetime golfer, Giles once shot a hole-in-one, kept a low handicap but played the game his way. One pro called him “Shotgun Giles” for his tendency to tee up four balls and drive one after another in quick succession, often landing not very far apart on the fairway. He was his own foursome, because he would do this at the crack of dawn when the course just opened. For the last few years of these rounds of golf he would arrive having been to the LDS temple for an hour of service there. Once his golfing days were over, he walked every morning, and neighbors who rose early would see him quickly pacing along the sidewalks near Wheeler Farm and 1300 East. Giles loved his Savior and served Him well, doing daily Temple work for years and serving as a faithful home teacher. He served with his wife, Nona, as a caring Primary teacher and coordinating Sacrament services to a local rehab center. Giles and Nona recently served an inner-city mission in Salt Lake for seven years, right up to February of this year, endearing himself to the members of the Temple View Branch. Earlier, Giles had other callings, including Counselor to the Branch President in North Dakota. He is survived by his wife, Nona; his sister, Penny Tolman; children: Giles H. Florence, Jr. (Ann), Robyn Lee Jones (Seth), Allyson Johnsen (Jeff), Stacy Rosehill, Kymberly Pell (Bob), Kahala Barnes (Jon), Shannon Story (Carl); step-children: Greg Winter (Cindy), Jeffrey Winter (Sharon), Valerie McAllister (Dale), Marnie Woodruff (Kyle); 22 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren. Giles was preceded in death by his son, Thomas D.; his parents; his brothers, Henry and Calvin; his sisters, Vivian Florence, Margaret Perri, Betty Gladden, Anne Powell, Beverly Pollei, and Maxine Gonzales. A viewing will be held on Thursday, December 21, 2017, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State Street, Murray, Utah. Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 22, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS Chapel, 1160 East Vine Street, Murray, Utah, with a viewing one hour prior. Interment will be at Sutherland Cemetery in Delta, Utah.