Orson Ray Stilson

Orson Ray Stilson passed away on July 8, 2025, just two weeks after celebrating his 90th birthday—an occasion he was thrilled to reach.

In June 1935, Orson’s parents, Orson Doyle Stilson and Roxcile Christensen Stilson, were traveling in a covered wagon with their almost year old daughter, LouRita, from Myton, Utah to St. George in search of work. They stopped in Cleveland, Emery County, Utah, to visit family and the grave of their first daughter, Roxie Marie. While there, their first son, Orson Ray, was born—thus beginning a life full of adventure.

Orson was known for his stories and his adventurous spirit. In the harsh winter of 1948–49, his family was snowed in for six weeks in Mountain City, Nevada. In 1950’s, he lived in the San Rafael Desert mining uranium. He later worked in Nevada as a guard for the Atomic Energy Commission, and witnessed atomic bomb tests firsthand. He spent 18 years as a machinist at Geneva Steel in Orem, UT.

He graduated from Springville High School in 1953 and married Marlene Ainge on December 5, 1954. Orson was drafted into the U.S. Army in April 1955. Together, he and Marlene had four children: Wendy, Dennis, Diann and Lynn (who died in infancy). Orson and Marlene later divorced.

In January 1975, Orson met Miriam Mecham in an art class. They were married on July 17, 1975, and shared nearly 50 years together, passing just nine days before their anniversary.

In 1977, Orson fulfilled a dream by moving to Alaska, where he and Miriam bought into a fly-in fishing lodge on the Talachulitna River. They operated the lodge for 14 summers and drove the 2,300-mile Alaska Highway 24 times, returning to Orem most of the winters. Orson hunted, fished, earned his pilot’s license, and even owned his own plane.

Seeking more peace and space, Orson and Miriam moved to Skyline Mountain Resort in 1998, where Orson enjoyed golfing, painting, and woodworking.

He was preceded in death by his son Lynn, parents Doyle and Roxcile Stilson, stepfather Lewis Hardy, sisters LouRita Steele and Patsy Olsen, brother Gene Stilson, stepson Lance Mecham, grandson Wesley Anderson, and former wife Marlene Mayo.

He is survived by his wife, Miriam; children Wendy (Randy) Anderson, Dennis Stilson, and Diann (Roger) Clement; stepchildren Steven (Alice) Mecham, Doug (Rosemary) Mecham, and Shauna (Frank) Hatch; siblings, Donna (Nathan) Johnson and Judy Hill; as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and four (almost five) great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at the Mount Pleasant North Stake Center, 461 North 300 West, Mt. Pleasant, Utah. Viewings will be held: Wednesday, July 16, 2025, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. at Rasmussen Mortuary, 96 North 100 West, Mt. Pleasant, UT and Thursday, July 17, 2025, from 9:30–10:30 a.m. prior to the funeral at the stake center. Interment in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.

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