John Morley Christensen passed away peacefully on November 12, 2024, in Payson, Utah. John was born to Morley Burt and Editha Reid Christensen on February 15, 1935, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was one of six children and was raised primarily in Arlington, Virgina. He graduated from Washington and Lee High School in Arlington. He went on to earn bachelor and master degrees in communication disorders from Brigham Young University. He earned his doctorate in speech sciences from Purdue University.
He married Roberta Lucetta Ackley (Bobbie Lu) on May 5, 1958, in Syracuse, New York; and two days later, they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. John and Bobbie Lu were blessed with five children.
John was Professor in the Department of Speech Sciences and Disorders at The University of Tulsa, Northern Arizona University, and Idaho State University. He had a variety of jobs during his life from bike repairman, rod and chainman working road construction, chemist at Bristol Labs, and more. The job he had the longest was at The University of Tulsa from 1985 to 2000. Dr. Christensen was known for his high-quality teaching and received departmental recognition for his efforts. He enjoyed teaching in the classroom and in the speech clinic. Dr. Christensen helped train hundreds of speech pathologists over his career. In 2000, he and Bobbie Lu retired to Payson, Utah, to help raise their Havens grandchildren.
One of his proudest moments as a scout was being a member of the Eagle Scout Honor Guard at President Eisenhower’s inauguration. John spent a great deal of time reading and studying the scriptures. Family history was a lifetime pursuit beginning in college. In retirement, John and Bobbie Lu did everything together from missionary work, family history, grocery shopping, and cleaning. He loved having family gather for a meal prepared by Bobbie Lu. John loved music and could identify classical music pieces by ear. He was an excellent bass, and enjoyed singing in church choir.
John was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and faithfully served in many callings over the years: serving in the Eastern States Mission, acting as Branch President, serving as temple worker at the Provo Temple and Payson Temple, completing a family history mission with his wife Bobbie Lu, working as a temple and family history consultant, serving as a gospel doctrine teacher, and more. Teaching gospel doctrine was his favorite calling because he loved sharing his knowledge about the scriptures and the gospel.
He is survived by his children: Roy (Ramiel) Christensen, Amy (David) Thorne, Lisa (Russel) Havens, and Nathan (Heather) Christensen, 17 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; and siblings: Karen (Niels) Pedersen, Linda Hutchings, Connie (Kent) Buie, and Alan Christensen. He was preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife Bobbie Lu, son Eric Christensen, and brother David R. Christensen.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 608 West 1400 South in Payson, Utah. Visitation will be from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in Payson City Cemetery, 400 North 800 East, Payson, Utah.
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