L. Charles Briggs Obituary (1924 - 2017)

Lester Charles Briggs, our beloved husband, father, and friend passed away at the age of 92 on November 1, 2017 from a lung disease after enduring many long years with lower back pain. He was born at the LDS Hospital on December 17, 1924 to Lester and Cecelia Stephenson Briggs. At age 6, he and his parents moved to Nephi, Utah where he graduated from Juab High School. After Pearl Harbor was bombed and the US got into the war, Charlie was drafted into the Navy and was sent to Guam and became a pharmacist’s mate. After his military service, he went home and was called on an LDS mission to Mexico. He enjoyed it greatly and many people joined the church. Charles continued to speak Spanish fluently throughout his life. He attended the University of Utah for one year and graduated two years later from Brigham Young University in Sociology. Not finding a good paying job in the field, he got a job teaching in elementary schools in California and eventually got his Masters Degree at San Diego State University. He taught in the San Diego school district for 32 years. He loved the children and he loved teaching. He married Mazie Jane Foster and they had five children and later divorced. He married Carol Sue James and later divorced. After his retirement, he moved back to Nephi and met and married Betty Huefner Mason who had six children. Charlie and Betty were sealed in the Jordan River Temple and lived happily ever after for over 26 years until his passing. He is survived by Eileen (Grant) Layton, Eric (Lori) Briggs, DeAnna (Bob) Krause, Larry (Pattie) Briggs, Susan Lindberg, Michael (Kursten) Mason, Brent (Michelle) Mason, Arlene (Doug) DeGraw, and Steve Mason and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, Marshall Briggs (son), Kurt Eric Briggs (grandson), and Darryl Mason (stepson). Charlie was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in most position and was even a Relief Society President on his mission in Mexico. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout and was active in the scouting program. He was an ordinance worker in the Jordan River and Oquirrh Mountain temples after his retirement. He loved his Savior and desired to serve Him to the best of his ability. He loved model trains and has a room full of them. In his younger days, he played all kinds of sports. He ruined his knee while water skiing, broke his back tobogganing with his 6th grade students, and injured his shoulder playing with his sons. He loved life, enjoyed reading, shopping, building things and chocolate. He especially enjoyed traveling the world with his wife Betty. A celebration of his life will be held Monday, November 6, 2017 at 11:00 am the Sunset Ridge 9th Ward, 6200 West 8200 South, West Jordan. Viewings will be on Sunday, November 5, 2017 from 6:30-8:30 pm and on Monday from 9:30-10:40 am at the church. Burial in Nephi, Utah at 3:00 pm with military honors.