Donald Mangum

Well, he's gone. After a valiant two-month battle to prove yet another doctor wrong, this one was right. You can fight back injuries, bleeding ulcers, crippling arthritis and a multitude of other illnesses with only the help of Tylenol and a strong determination, but cancer proved to be the stronger foe. On Sept. 6, 2020 we lost our sweetheart, dad, grandpa, great grandpa, brother, uncle and friend. Donald Lee Mangum was born to John Darwin and Leola Grange Mangum Feb. 6, 1931 in Huntington, UT. The fifth of ten children. He lived a life of hard work and service to others. He was kind and compassionate and generous to a fault. He started working in the coal mines at the age of 17 to help support his parents and younger siblings. The first thing he did after going to work was set up an account at the company store for his mother. He joined the naval air force during the Korean War and served for four years, during which most of the pay went home to his folks. Soon after his discharge from the Navy, he met Doris Christiansen of Emery UT and fell in love the first day. The were married March 16, 1956 and later solemnized in the Manti Temple on June 14, 1963. They are the parents to five children whom he raised with a firm hand and a lot of love; our mom was the pushover. Throughout the years he worked as plumber, carpenter, concrete finisher, Emery City Marshall and maintenance man, and any other job that was available, and mastered all of them. He was finally able to return to coal mining, the job he really loved and finished his working career at Consolidation Coal in Emery. Because of health issues he was forced to take a medical disability retirement at the age of 53. This was just the beginning of his second working career as he served as mayor of Emery for three terms and a city councilman for one term. He diligently served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in various callings. His favorite calling was the 16 years he served with Boyd Jacobsen as the Home Teacher to all the widows in Emery and later the care centers in the County. They never missed a month. He is survived by his sweetheart Doris, his children Donna (Ted) Thomas, Duane (Gaye) Mangum, Dennis (Lisa) Mangum, Diane (Murry) Rudd and David (Jennee) Mangum. Ten grandsons and eight granddaughters, who he loved and spoiled, and 33 great grandchildren who were loved and spoiled even more. His brother Monty (Marcie) Mangum and his siters Mamie Noyes and Carol (Bob) Norton, his brother-in-law Dale Ungerman and sisters-in-law Shirly Mangum and Judi Mangum, and many nieces and nephews who adored him. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers James, Jerry, and Clark Mangum and his sisters Jean Killpack, Marjorie Tomsic, Rose Ungerman and four halfsiblings. A viewing will be held Thursday, September 10, 2020 from 6-8pm at the LDS Church in Emery. Funeral services will be Friday Sept. 11, 2020 at 11:00 am with a private family gathering one hour prior to services. Interment will follow in the Emery Cemetery under the direction of Fausett Mortuary. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook and share memories of Donald at www.fausettmortuary.com.