In Passing

Hilary Garrison Coltman

Hilary Garrison Coltman, 70, of Goodyear, Ariz., passed away peacefully in her home on Jan. 26, 2023.

She was born on Jan. 15, 1953, in Calcutta, India, where her parents and two younger siblings lived until relocating back to the United States in 1958. The family moved three years later to Palo Alto, Calif., where they lived for the next 18 years.

Upon graduation of high school, Hilary attended UC Berkeley and received her degree in Sociology. She went on to obtain her RN designation, and subsequently began work with Merck Pharmaceuticals where she embarked on a 20+ year career in the Pharma industry. In 2012, she moved to Cathedral City, Calif., to be closer to her father where she worked for Hospice of the Desert. After his passing in 2013, she moved to the PebbleCreek community in Goodyear in 2014.

Hilary had a passion for volunteer work, travel, and animals. Her volunteer work included acting as treasurer for the Arizona chapter of the National T.T.T. Society—an organization dedicated to raising money for under-privileged teenage girls to attend summer camp. She served as a volunteer for Honor House—a non-profit dedicated to helping veterans transition from military to civilian life where she coordinated the collection and delivery of numerous household items and furniture for the veterans and their families. Additionally, she volunteered as a Unit Coordinator for the PebbleCreek Kare Bears House helping residents with their medical equipment and appointment needs as well as serving on the board of directors for the community animal rescue organization, The Pet Companions Club of PebbleCreek. It was through this organization that she found her two current Chihuahuas, Peanut and Bingo, who she loved to spoil.

Her love of travel was sparked at the age of 16 when her parents and three siblings started taking annual cruises. This passion for travel continued throughout her life. She especially loved taking an annual Windstar cruise between Europe and the U.S., with either her father or a friend, which allowed her to spend many days at sea, a passage which she found to be peaceful and restorative.

Hilary is predeceased by her mother, Viola, and father, Kyle. She is survived by her three siblings: Kyle Jr., Scott, and Lucy; nephew and nieces: Chase, Alexandra, and Lauren; her aunt, Shirley; and cousins: Barbara, Craig, and Jaymi. The family will hold a private Celebration of Life service in the coming months. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to any of the following organizations that she cared about so deeply:

National T.T.T. Society: www.nationaltttsociety.org (see both of the Arizona camps)

Honor House: www.thehonorhouse.org

The Pet Companions Club of PebbleCreek: The Pet Companions Club of PebbleCreek, POB 6106, Goodyear, AZ 85338-0619

Lynn R. Knudsen

Lynn Knudsen passed away Dec. 24, 2022, in Goodyear, Ariz. He was a native of Provo, Utah, before moving to PebbleCreek in 2003.

He received his early education in Provo. Following graduation from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. He later returned to Provo and attended BYU before transferring to University of Denver where he graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration.

He began his career in the oil and gas industry in the Los Angeles area and later established Knudsen Oil and Propane in Utah. He served as president of the Utah L.P. Gas Association and remained active in the industry until retirement in 1989.

He was preceded in death by his wife Coleen and daughter Kristin. In 1999 he married Carol Douglas. They began splitting their time traveling and living in Provo and PebbleCreek. While living in PebbleCreek he was active in golf, bocce, and billiards and forged many close relationships with friends.

He is survived by his wife Carol, son Brent Knudsen, daughter Kim Hunter, stepsons Mark Douglas, Kirk Douglas, and Tony Douglas, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A viewing at Berg Mortuary in Provo was followed by a graveside service and dinner at Riverside Country Club for family and attendees.

Thomas Morris

Thomas “Tom” Logan Morris, 81, of Goodyear, Ariz., passed away on Feb. 2, 2023, due to complications of Alzheimer’s, surrounded by his loving family. Tom was an easy-going and good-natured man who enjoyed family and made friends wherever he went, sharing stories/laughter with those he met. Tom was born March 5, 1941, in Chinook, Mont., the son of Albert and Pearl (Kessel) Morris. He was schooled in Chinook and graduated in 1959. He served in the Air Force Reserves. In 1961 he began a 37-year career with the JC Penney Company.

In 1962, Tom married Loretta Tyson in Kalispell, Mont., and they had four children. They lived in five states during his career with the longest in Grand Forks, N.D. Upon retirement in 1998, they moved to Arizona. Tom was a devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and loved spending time with family. He had a special relationship with each of his grandchildren. Tom enjoyed skiing, golfing, hiking, traveling, rodeos, and watching his favorite sports teams (Nebraska Cornhuskers football and UND hockey). Two of his most memorable activities were golfing with his son-in-laws and grandsons and spending eight summers in retirement building fences in Montana with his brother-in-law, John.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Don and Ralph, and family members Helen Morris, Howard Cowan, and Doug Morris. He is survived by his wife and children: Charlene (Jamie) Kuntz, Grand Forks, N.D.; Teena (John) Swangler, Maple Grove, Minn.; Chad Morris, Muscatine, Iowa; and Kathy (Todd) Braunschweig, Fargo, N.D.; grandchildren: Ryan (Vanessa) Kuntz, Hayley Kuntz, Caitlin Kuntz, Krista (Jose) Chapa, Daniel Swangler, Grayson Morris, Cody Braunschweig, and Taylor Braunschweig; great-siblings Betty Cowan and Ben (Faye) Morris; and sister-in-law Dee Morris. He is also survived by Loretta’s family, whom he had a special relationship with, considering them as his own.

We’d like to thank all of the staff at Hacienda Del Rey and Hospice of the Valley for such good care. Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Robert Charles Wiley

Robert Charles Wiley, commonly known as Charlie, entered this world in Yakima, Wash., a suburb of Wiley City on May 15, 1941. His early years were spent on one of the three Wiley family ranches that were homesteaded in the late 1800s.

As a youngster he rode his horse to school and tied it to a tree across from the school. After graduating from high school he recognized that ranching was not his thing and set his path in another direction.

Charlie graduated from Central Washington State and taught fifth grade in the Yakima area. He married his wife Mary in 1965, they had three children, Kevin Charles, Stephen Kenneth, and Kristin Annette.

While raising his young family he went on to obtain his Ph.D. in 1973 from Oregon State University. After earning his Ph.D. he obtained a position at Ball State University, Muncie, Ind. He was not destined to stay in Indiana. Shortly, Arizona State University offered him the position to head-up their early childhood education department. He accepted, and off the family went to Tempe, Ariz.

Later he secured a position at the Arizona State Department of Education and continued to teach at ASU and the University of Phoenix.

Mary and Charlie started to prepare for Charlie’s retirement by moving to PebbleCreek, in Goodyear, Ariz., in 2001. He retired from the Department of State in 2002 as Director of Teacher Certification and to take care of Mary, who subsequently passed away in 2003.

Charlie adjusted to retired life in PebbleCreek by joining the Wood Carvers Club, Men’s Nine Holers Golf, PebbleCreek Wine Club, volunteering at the Kare Bears House, and meeting Frances/Fran. They were married on Feb. 18, 2007, and together they enjoyed 16 1/2 years traveling to exotic places and socializing with friends and family.

Charlie leaves behind his three children, son-in-law Jason Gerrard, daughters-in-law Lori and Amber, grandchildren Michael and Connor, their spouses Kara and Amy, Emma and Nathan, great-grandchildren Ayden, Benjamin, and Samuel, and stepsons Jeffrey and Burton.

Our dear beloved Charlie left us on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 11:30 a.m. while sleeping.