Kendyl O. Wilkins

Kendyl O. Wilkins, 78, of Redmond, Utah, passed away very peacefully April 12, 2020, surrounded by family in the home he built in Redmond. Kendyl was born August 19, 1941 to Orman Lamond and Mildred Murray Wilkins in St. George, Utah. He attended school in Washington and Murray, and graduated from Gunnison High School. He grew up on a farm in Mayfield, and loved riding a horse, hauling hay, and driving a tractor. He met his eternal companion Carla Hansen while in high school and they married in the Manti Temple on Sept 14, 1963. He attended Snow College and Southern Utah State College, and graduated with a teaching degree in 1966. He taught school for a half of a year in Wendover before moving to Redmond to teach at Salina Elementary. He touched the lives of many students during his 36 years of teaching. He was the favorite teacher for these students. Kendyl was awarded the Utah State Teacher of the Year in 1999. Kendyl worked for the forest service in the summers for 12 years. He was a forest firefighter and YCC camp counselor, and helped build miles of fences and ATV trails in the mountains above Salina. Gifted in carpentry and woodworking, Kendyl used these talents to keep busy. He was also talented in music, and played the piano and accordion for his family, who loved to hear him play. He was a master storyteller, and could keep his listeners spellbound. He played chess, and he loved to read. Kendyl loved the mountains, hunting, and four wheeler rides with his family on their mountain property at Acord Lake. He passed this love on to his family. Kendyl taught Hunter Education for many years, and was one of the first EMT’s in Salina. His response time for jumping into his orange EMT uniform was impressive. Kendyl and Carla loved square dancing with the Sagebrush Swingers. They enjoyed building friendships there, and loved traveling with these friends. Active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Kendyl helped to build the Redmond church building. He served as Scoutmaster, High Councilman, and as a counselor in three different bishoprics. He loved being an ordinance worker with Carla in the Manti Temple. Kendyl and Carla raised 5 children in Redmond; Scott (Cynthia) of Redmond, Cami (Ty Gubler) of Hurricane, Keri (Bret Merchant) of Redmond, Dan of Ogden, and Chad (Jodee) of Redmond. They have 15 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister, and his parents-in-law; Ivan and Myrle Hansen. Because of these unique times of social distancing, in lieu of a funeral the family has asked that you write a tribute or memory of Kendyl to share with them. The tribute can be emailed to kwilkins_1@yahoo.com, mailed to P.O. Box 25 Redmond, UT 84652, or dropped in the memory box in front of their home at 98 North 100 East in Redmond. A family graveside service will be held this week and interment will be in the Redmond Town Cemetery.