Rex Lyle Furness

Rex Lyle Furness, 81, passed away peacefully at his home in Grant, Sunday, April 24, 2005 after being diagnosed a short time ago with cancer. He was born November 18, 1923, in Sugar City, Idaho, to Tobias Furness and Lucy Ricks Furness. He graduated from High School in Sugar City in 1941. He attended the southern branch of the University of Idaho and Ricks College. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 7, 1942, in Salt Lake City, Utah and received navigational training in Lubbock, Texas. He was stationed in Norwich, England where he served as a navigator. After six missions, he was assigned as Lead Navigator for his squadron in the Second Air Division. He led his squadron on deep penetration and oil target missions into Germany. On three occasions, he led missions of one thousand bombers, each with a crew of ten men. He was amazed that a little Idaho farm boy led that many men into combat by stars and a pencil. As a Squadron Navigator, one of his responsibilities was keeping navigation instruments in working order. After 25 missions he received the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was discharged as a First Lieutenant, in November of 1945. After the war ended in Europe, he returned home and married Fern Spaulding, July 2, 1945 in the Logan Utah LDS Temple. He farmed in Terreton and Grant for many years. With his brother Harold, they owned Furness Brothers Feed Company in Terreton. In his life, he was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and gave much political and community service. He lived in Arizona with his wife for 18 months, where he served as manager of the Many Farms Co-op on the Navajo, Indian Reservation. He supported many charitable projects in his life, including several in Guatemala. For the past 21 years he traveled to Guatemala to carry out projects. His last trip to Guatemala was in February, where he worked on a project to obtain medical equipment for a hospital serving babies born with AIDS. He felt his greatest accomplishments in life were his family. Rex and Fern were blessed with six daughters. They have 21 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Jay; daughter Marion Briggs; son –in-law, Milton Barzee; and great-grandson, Thomas Jay Simmons. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Fern, daughters Ellen Barzee of Rexburg, Millie (Alan) Batt of Grant, Lucy (Jay) Simmons and Grace (Bruce) Smith both of Terreton, Jenny (Mike) Thornton of Provo, Utah, and son-in-law, Allan Briggs of Sugar City, sister, Joyce Luke of Sugar City, and brother Harold Furness of Terreton. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at the Grant Ward L.D.S. Chapel with Bishop Dennis Merrill officiating. The family will visit with friends on Tuesday night from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Grant Ward Church and prior to the services from 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Burial will follow the services at the Sugar City Cemetery under the direction of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby. Rex requested donations be sent to the Perpetual Education Fund, (50 East North Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150).