Paul Ernest Felt Sr.

“Jesus said…., come and follow me.” (Matt 19:21) For 83 years, Paul E. Felt, loved, lived, and taught sacred principles admonished by our Savior. Born January 29, 1916 to Ernest W. and Edith Mae Martin Felt. Died February 9, 1999 in Provo surrounded by his loving family.

Paul grew up in the Pioneer Stake in Salt Lake and upon graduation from South High enrolled at the University of Utah. He was called to serve in the Central States Mission in 1937 and returned to finish his education at Brigham Young University. He was elected student body president during the 1941-42 school year and it was during that time that he met a young nursing student named M. Afton Harris.

During his senior year at BYU he enlisted in the United States Navy and enrolled in the Officer Training School and upon graduation was assigned as an officer on the U.S.S. Silver Bell in the Pacific during World War II. On June 1, 1943, he married the love of his life, M. Afton Harris in the Salt Lake Temple by his former Stake President Harold B. Lee. Upon his release from the Navy in 1946, he began his career with the Church Education System and accepted an assignment as seminary teacher in Logan, Utah.

Later he obtained his MS Ed Degree from the University of Utah and was assigned as the first Institute Director outside the United States serving at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, and later at Southern Utah State College at Cedar City.

In 1957 he came to BYU as Student Coordinator and later was appointed as the Director of American Indian Institute and Studies. He was called as mission president of the Southwest Indian Mission (later changed to the New Mexico Arizona Mission) from 1971 -74 and returned to BYU as a professor in the College of Religion. For seven years he served as a councilor to four presidents of the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah. In 1980, he served as co-director of BYU Israel Semister Abroad.

Later he served as Director of Hawaii Temple Visitors Center, in Liae, Hawaii. He continued teaching in the BYU College of Religion after his retirement and served as a sealer in the Provo Temple. His lifetime of church service includes callings as priesthood quorum leader, ward bishopric counselor, Bishop, high counselor, stake mission president, counselor in stake presidency, mission president, as well as home teacher and gospel doctrine teacher.

Preceded in death by his parents and infant daughter Betty Namoi Felt, Paul is survived by his wife and eternal companion M. Afton Felt, and eleven of their twelve children, Paul E. Felt, Jr, of Melbourne, Australia, John M. Felt of Draper, Yvonne (Felt) Jordan of Cedar City, Marilynn (Felt) Forsyth of Houston, Texas, Larry H. Felt of Payson, Ron G. Felt of Jakarta, Indonesia, Jessie (Felt) Allman of Atlanta, Georgia, Kathleen (Felt) Covey of Lindon, Tom E. Felt of Orem, Tammy (Felt) Williams of Atlanta, Georgia, and Windy (Felt) Stewart of Rapid City, South Dakota; 51 grand children and 24 great-grand children; brothers Robert B. Felt of Ogden, and Kenneth F. Felt of Rialto, California, and sisters Edith Thurman of Salem, Oregon, and Marguerite Gubbler of Alpine.

The family expresses their heartfelt gratitude to friends, neighbors and ward members who have shown great compassion and love. Funeral services will be held Monday, February 15, 1999 at 11 a.m. at the Pleasant View Chappel located at 2445 North Timp View Drive (650 East) in Provo, Utah. Friends may call Sunday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Berg Mortuary, 185 East Center Street, Provo, and on Monday at the church between 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. prior to services. Internment, Provo City Cemetery. Because of Paul’s great love for the American Indians, the family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Native American Indian Services, 1902 Canyon Road, Suite 100, Provo, Utah 84604