St. George, Utah – Emerald L Seitz, age 88, passed away December 28, 2016, at home with his wife Vera, children and some of his grandchildren by his side. He was born June 25, 1928 in St. George, Utah, to Andrew N. Seitz and Delilah Leavitt Seitz.

He was married to Evelyn Anderson (later divorced). They have one daughter, Shelley Seitz Stanworth. On April 16, 1955 he married Vera Seitz in the St. George LDS Temple. They have had 61 wonderful years together.

He lost his father when he was 9 years old and became the man of the family. He worked with his grandfather and uncles on the farm and ranches. Horses were his first love and he rode them until he was no longer able to ride. He grew up in Veyo, Utah. He attended school in Veyo, and Woodward in St. George. He quit school in 9th grade so he could work and help his family.

He belonged to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was active throughout his life.

He served in the US Army at the end of WWII in Germany as Military Police. He was in the Reserves and was called back in 1951 to Fort Ord, then Camp Stoneman in California.

He worked for Southern Utah Power Company and then in 1957, moved his family to California working with Southern California Edison Company in the High Sierra Mountains as a power house operator, retiring from Hoover Dam in 1987. He then moved back to Veyo, then St. George in 2000.

He is survived by his wife Vera, children: Shelley (Pat, deceased) Stanworth of Delta, UT, Andrew (Denise) Seitz of Mesa, AZ, Nancy (Brian) Shepherd of Henderson, NV, Julie (Larry) Hall of Brookside, UT, 19 grandchildren and their spouses, 43 great-grandchildren, brother Jack (Mildred) Seitz of Vernal, UT, Viola (Ken-deceased) Shiefer of Mt. Juliet, TN and Ione (Charles-deceased) Pickett of Hurst, TX.

Funeral services will be held Monday, January 2, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the Red Cliffs LDS 3rd Ward Chapel, 1285 North Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. Visitations will be held Sunday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd. and on Monday, prior to services, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at the church. Graveside services will be held  Monday at 2:00 p.m. at the Veyo City Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank Rocky Mountain Hospice, especially Dee, Nicole, Jody and Sussane, for their care and kindness given to our father.