Jesse Carol Witt

With his loving family at his side, Jesse Carol Witt died Saturday morning, January 23, 2016, at his home in Clay Springs, Navajo County, Arizona following a lengthy illness.  He was 86 years old.  A Christmas baby, he was born on December 25, 1929, at the family home in Clay Springs, Arizona to his parents, the late Milford Johann, Jr. and Margaret Sarah (Jackson) Witt.  Because of the special day on which he was born, his parents gave him the middle name of Carol, by which he was known his whole life long.He received his education in the old Clay Springs School house.  Later, he was privileged to attend the "school of hard knocks," where he learned everything else!  Carol was a veteran of the United States Army and served his country well from 1954 to 1956.  During his military service, he lived in Texas, Kansas and Ft. Huachuca, Arizona.  Just a few short years, after receiving his honorable discharge from the army, Carol married the love of his life, Mildred Jane Kizzar on January 24, 1958 in Holbrook, Navajo County, Arizona.  Later, they became "Forever Sweethearts" when their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 12, 1974.Other than the 2 years he spent in the U.S. Army, Carol lived his entire life in Clay Springs.  Carol was a guy who was considered to be a "Jack of All Trades."  There really wasn't anything that he could not do, except for maybe dentistry!  He was a cowboy in every sense of the word.  He felt a great deal of peace being atop his 4-legged friends, as he was able to more fully appreciate the beauty of the Lord's creations of the world in which he lived.  He worked as a journeymen millwright for many years and was also a mechanic, truck driver and woodworker.  Of all the places he's worked, his most enjoyable was that of being a logger, working for Pinetop for well over a dozen years.  Never one to be idle, when Carol wasn't working, he could be found doing some creative woodworking projects.  Many of his creations are now considered to be priceless treasures to his family.  Also, Carol was blessed with the proverbial "green thumb" and could grow just about anything in his gardens.  His most cherished times were spent in the presence of his family, as he loved every member of it so very much.  Mildred, his loving wife of 57 years, has said of him, "He was a great husband!  He was a great dad!  He was a great granddad and all of the kids loved him!"  Carol's daughter, Karlie, said, "He was my best friend and was ALWAYS there for me." His son, Scott, echoed the words of his sister when he said, "He taught me a lot!  And, he too, was my best friend." Carol was a man of great faith and was a lifelong member of Clay Springs Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He knew that when he was in "the service of his fellow man, he was only in the service of his God."  Carol was able to serve as a missionary to the Lamanites in Cibecue, Arizona and he truly loved the members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe.  He had the opportunity to serve as the Elders' Quorum President as well as the Sunday School President in Clay Springs.  Having a great testimony of the "restoration of all things" and of a loving Savior who gave all through His atoning sacrifice, Carol knew the importance of temple work.  He loved doing the work on behalf of his kindred dead and felt of their love as he performed many of the ordinances in their behalf; uniting them together, as an eternal family in Heavenly Father's Great Plan of Happiness.  Of all of his church work, his favorite was that of being a faithful home teacher and, up until the last few months of his life, he never missed a month of making those sacred visits.He is survived by his wife, Mildred Jane Witt of Clay Springs, Arizona; son, Carol Scott Witt of Clay Springs, Arizona; daughter, Karlie Witt Eberly of Clay Springs, Arizona; 4 grandchildren:  Minthie Jo (Frank) McCormick of Lake Forest, Illinois, Miki Dew (Logan) Lewis of Linden, Arizona, Marki Lynn Eberly of Burton, Arizona, Mattie June Eberly of Burton, Arizona; 2 great-grandchildren:  Ryder Lewis and Riggin Lewis and is also survived by his sister, Annie Ramona Kizzar of Clay Springs, Arizona.The funeral service, officiated by Bishop Mike Ellsworth, will begin 10:00 A.M., Saturday, January 30, 2016 at the Clay Springs Ward chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 515 Highway 260 in Clay Springs, Arizona, where the visitation and viewing will begin 1 hour prior.  The concluding service, with military honors rendered by the Veterans of the White Mountains, and the interment will immediately follow at the Clay Springs Cemetery. Carol's family is grateful for the many expressions of sympathy they have received during this time and are especially grateful for all of the prayers offered up on their behalf.<a href="http://www.owenslivingstonmortuary.com/"><img src="http://owenslivingstonmortuary.com/sitemaker/sites/OwensL1/images/TransparentLogo.png" border="0"></a>