Selton Jay Atkinson, age 81, passed away on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, at his home in Delta, Utah, after a long illness. He was born on December 27, 1936, in Preston, Idaho, to Vernon Sperry and Donna Marie Lewis Atkinson. Vernon, his father, was killed in a car accident prior to Jay’s birth. When Jay was a few months old, his mother married Lawrence “Tuck” Draper from Hinckley, Utah. They moved to Hinckley to raise their family. Jay had an older brother, Gary Vernon Atkinson, who was raised by the Atkinson grandparents in Dayton, Idaho. Jay attended Hinckley and Delta schools and graduated from Delta High School in 1955. He and a friend joined the Marine Corps the summer after graduation and spent 3 years in the military. He had training in Camp Pendleton, California and served for 2 years in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. He enjoyed his time as a Marine and always shared Marine stories with the family. When he returned home, he found temporary employment for a time in the Delta area. He soon was hired to transport uranium ore from the mines on the West Desert, by truck to the railroad cars in Delta.
Jay met Dorothy “Dot” Roper and they were married in Cedar City, Utah on April 10, 1961. The marriage was later solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple. She had 2 children previously, and as the years went on, they were blessed with 7 more children. In 1970, Jay accepted a job with the Millard County Road Department and worked as a loader operator, a job which he loved and took pride in doing well. Jay and Dot enjoyed raising their family and attending the activities they were involved in as the years went by. Jay always loved the West Desert. He knew every canyon, road, watering hole, ridge, cave, and peak, and every story about each area. His children also loved the desert and their family’s traditional deer hunt outings. After thirty years working for the county, Jay retired due to health problems.
He was a good, kind, unselfish man. He loved everyone he knew and enjoyed visiting with anyone he met. He was a loving, caring husband and father, and a wonderful grandfather. He will surely be missed.
Jay is survived by his wife; a daughter: Misty (Austin) Day; and 4 sons: Thayne (Colleen) Atkinson, Lance Atkinson, and Klint (Bethany) Atkinson, all the Delta area, and Mitch (Erin) Atkinson, Castle Rock, Colorado; a sister: Judy Brown; and a step-sister: RaeLynn Sylvester. The couple has 18 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his children: Lisa, Lynette, Tracy and Kyle; siblings: Vernon Gary Atkinson, Wayne Draper, LaRell Draper, Richard Draper, Joan Draper, and Scott Draper.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, December 8, at 2:00 PM, at the Delta 1st Ward LDS Chapel, 222 West 200 North. Viewings will be held on Friday evening, 6:30-8:00 PM, at the Nickle Mortuary; and Saturday, 12:00-1:40 PM, prior to the service. Burial will be in the Oak City Cemetery.