Henry H. Deason

Hank was born at home in Alabama, April 14th, 1921, as the youngest of 10, to Dorothy Elam and Grover Deason. He lived 96 years and passed on from this life October 6, 2017.
He grew up in the country, in the woods and clay soil of Alabama. He picked cotton that his family farmed. He hunted and fished and grew their own food. He learned to work hard, and never did shirk from it his entire life. The family attended Little Hope Baptist Church where Shape Note Singing, that you will hear today, was a prominent feature of their upbringing.
When WWII broke out he and his nephew Huey both enlisted. Hank joined the Army Air Corps and became a radio operator with a crew that flew in a B-17. Hank felt like war was an atrocity and never really liked to talk about the horrors we witnessed.  During his service he contracted malaria and then suffered with it many times over the years. He was also injured during training which left him with a lifelong disability and pain.
During one of his stations Hank met a beautiful, young local girl who promptly stole his heart, and they went on to spend 74 years together. Both being from large families, they decided they wanted to have 18 children. However, after moving from one end of the country to the other and back again they ended up with six – Four boys and two girls. Two being born in Utah, two in Alabama, one in Colorado and one in California. They decided that upon retirement they would return to Utah so that his bride could be near her home. There are 9 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren.
Hank always worked hard. He did any available job in order to support and care for his family. He always loved to travel, to go fishing and to camp. He grew beautiful and productive gardens and loved to be and work outside. He built things and enjoyed working with his hands. He did the Deason Family genealogy and loved researching his ancestors. He had a Ham Radio license and enjoyed talking in Morse Code with people all over the world.
One thing Hank always wanted was a farm of his own one day and he and his beloved wife were able to realize that dream where he has spent the last many years of his life.
He was humble, and funny in a dry-humor kind of way. He was honest and loyal and true. And more than anything else his greatest wish was to have his family close.
Henry is preceded in death by his two sons, Michael and Jerry Deason. And is Survived by his wife Maye, children Larry, Sue (and Sam), Rick (and Agnes), and Cindy.
After Dad had passed at the Salt Lake VA, when they brought him out of the room draped in an American flag a lady leading the procession called out in a loud voice “Make way! Make way! Fallen Veteran coming!” And when they wheeled him down the hall every single nurse, doctor, janitor and patient that was able, stood to attention and saluted as he went by. It was a beautiful, solemn ceremony. So reverent you could have heard a pin drop.
He will be missed and loved forever.
Funeral services will be at 1:00 PM on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at Memorial Lake Hills Mortuary, 10055 South State Street, Sandy, Utah. A viewing will be held at the same location on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM and again one hour prior to services on Thursday. Interment will follow at Memorial Lake Hills Cemetery.
Service Information
Viewing October 11, 2017 at 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Memorial Lake Hills Mortuary 10055 South State Street, Sandy, Utah





Viewing October 12, 2017 at 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Memorial Lake Hills Mortuary, 10055 South State Street, Sandy, Utah





Funeral Service
October 12, 2017 at 1:00 PM
Memorial Lake Hills Mortuary, 10055 South State Street, Sandy, Utah