Richard Sommers

MORGAN - Richard K. "Dick" Sommers, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and everybody's friend, passed away at home after a hard fought battle with cancer on August 8, 2012.

Dick was born September 2, 1935, in Salt Lake City, to Kenneth Sommers and Nola Heiner. They moved to Morgan in 1945.

Dick graduated from Morgan High School and attended Weber State College, where he played baseball. He served in the United States Army.

He married Pat Carter and they had one daughter and later divorced. He then married Nadine Thurston and they had four children. They were later divorced.

Dick was a very active member in the community and held callings in the LDS Church. He was a member of the Morgan City Council, member of the Lion's Club where he served as a past president. Dick was always a huge supporter of the county Youth Livestock and 4-H programs and served on the Morgan County Fair Board. He also served many years on the Morgan County Volunteer Fire Department.

Dick was employed by Heiner Ford and retired after 30 years from First National Bank of Morgan where he served on the Board of Directors and was member of the Utah Bankers Association. He was a partner in the Sommers Mink Ranch with his father and brothers where they taught their families the values of hard work.

He was a very avid hunter and enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and friends. He spent his youth working and playing at Como Springs. Dick never missed an opportunity to support his grandchildren in all activities they participated in.

He had a tremendous love for horses and horse racing, but his true passion was cutter and chariot racing which he enjoyed for over 50 years. He was a charter member of Morgan Valley Cutter Racing, a former member of Beehive Chariot Association serving in all offices, and is a current member of Wasatch Slopes Chariot and Cutter Association where he served over 10 years as vice-president. He was a past president of the Utah State Chariot Association. He was a lifetime member of the American Quarter Horse Association and the Utah Quarter Horse Association, where he had served as a Racing Director.

He is survived by his brother, Dan H. Sommers; daughters: Melinda (Mark) McMillan, Sheri (Darrin) Hansen; sons: Richard Matt (Nicole) Sommers, Stanley Dale (Lisa) Sommers; 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter Dannette; brother, Kenneth Leo "Butch" Sommers; grandson, William McMillan; nephew, Dan Scott Sommers; and great-niece Sabryn Jade Sommers.

The family would like to thank Dr. Jason Stinnett's office, Lisa and Nancy, Encompass Hospice and comfort care giver, Aris.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, Aug. 13, 2012 at 1 p.m. at the Morgan Stake Center, 355 N 700 E, Morgan. A viewing will be held Sunday, Aug. 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Walker Mortuary in Morgan and Monday from 11:45 to 12:45 p.m. at the church prior to the services.

Interment will be at the North Morgan Cemetery.