Riley LaVar Norton Obituary (1934 - 2019)

Our loving husband, father and grandpa, Riley LaVar Norton, age 85, of Salt Lake City, Utah returned home to his Father in Heaven on December 4, 2019. Riley was born to Elbert Riley and Flora Lines Norton on June 23, 1934 in the town of Central, Arizona. He graduated from Thatcher High School and Eastern Arizona College. After graduation he served in the Western States Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He married Dorothy Olsen on December 14, 1957 in the Salt Lake City Temple and moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. He enjoyed a career in the transportation industry with many varied responsibilities along the way. Riley was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in various callings including as a beloved gospel doctrine teacher. He had a real gift for writing stories, and everyone enjoyed his sense of humor. After 44 years of marriage, Dorothy passed away in October of 1998. In 2004, Riley became reacquainted and married Linda Layton Nelson, his high school sweetheart. They enjoyed 15 years together until his passing. In these last years of his life Riley met several simultaneous, serious health challenges with gritty endurance, inspiring patience and a phenomenal sense of humor. Riley is survived by his wife, Linda, his son Brent Richard Norton (Lori Smith), of Cumming, Georgia, brothers Norman, Verdell (Butch) and John Norton, sister Kathy Norton White, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Riley was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Dorothy, brother Ronald Norton, eldest son Scott Riley Norton and daughter-in-law, Janette Pedersen Norton. Funeral services will be held Monday, December 9th at 11am, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5235 S. Wesley Road, SLC, Utah, with a visitation for family and friends from 9:30am to 10:45am at the church prior to the services. Interment will be at the Alpine City Cemetery, Alpine, Utah.