John Black Obituary

John Richard Black, 78, passed away peacefully September 11, 2025, at his home in Cedar surrounded by his family and close friends after battling Parkinson's for the last 12 years. He was born on December 3, 1946, in Cedar City to Alton Clark and Vie Louise Gillies Black. He spent the first five years of his life in Beaver where he was blessed to live by many close relatives. He moved to Cedar City at 6 years old after his dad passed away. When his mom later married Milt Jolley, he was blessed with a wonderful dad to raise him. John attended school at three elementary schools (East, West, and North), Cedar Jr. High, and Cedar High School. He was part of the class that attended the new high school for a full year before graduating. "Johnny Black" was a star athlete as a football quarterback, baseball catcher, and basketball point guard. He cherished his Class of 1965 classmates and teammates and remained close to many of them. He was proud of and loyal to his Cedar Redmen until the end.

John started working at a young age. He worked for Parry Sand and Gravel, 7-Up Distributing, Safeway, and the Department of the Interior (Cedar Breaks) before serving his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Gulf States mission from 1966-1968. Shortly after returning, he married his sweetheart Sonja Sue Miller, on November 2, 1968, for time and all eternity in the St. George LDS Temple.

John continued his education at CSU (now SUU) where he earned his bachelor's degree in business administration. He worked for Coleman, Blackburn and Gower, Jay Prisby, Leigh Furniture, and Sandberg Engineering. John and Sonja moved to Price, UT in 1972 where John worked for Davis Crofts Motors and then Four Corners Mental Health. They moved to Richfield, UT in 1977 where he worked for Central Utah Mental Health and later the Six County Commissioners Organization. In 1985, they moved to Las Vegas where John worked 23 years for the city of Las Vegas in various positions, the last being Chief of Parks Maintenance. He retired in 2008 and moved back home to his beloved Cedar City.

After returning home, he worked for Cedar City Corp. as Director of Park Maintenance for a little over a year. He served 4 years on the City Council and 3 years on the Central Utah Water Conservancy District Board.

John was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings. He loved being a finance clerk and serving on the High Council for the Married Student Stake. He enjoyed serving along with Sonja in the Baptistry of the Cedar City Temple when it first opened until it closed temporarily due to COVID- 19.

Family meant everything to John. As a young boy, he loved helping his dad at Milt's Stage Stop. He loved sports and was an avid NY Yankees fan. John loved to play golf and to spend time with his sons, son-in-law, and grandsons on the golf course. He was a hard worker and loved to help improve his community. He spent countless hours working on fields at the little league baseball park and local high school fields. He was the biggest fan of his kids and grandchildren and was always there to cheer them on and support them in everything they did. Always there with words of advice and encouragement, he was forever a "coach." He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, 4-wheeler rides, spending time at the family cabin, and playing cards and dominoes.

He is survived by his wife of almost 57 years, Sonja Miller Black, son Gavin (Danelle) Black, son Derek (Alisha) Black, daughter Trisha (Shon) Spevak, 9 grandchildren (Jaden, Quinn, Jantzen, Lawson, Bailei, Grady, Jaxen, Laini, Oaklei), sister Vie Louise Marshall, brother-in-law, Ross (Debbie) Miller, and many nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his parents, Alton Black, Milt and Vie Jolley, his in-laws, Nyal and Faye Miller, his sisters, Mary Manzione Clark, Merle Gillins, brothers-in-law, Duke Manzione, Richard Clark, Wayne Gillins, Don Marshall, and Tex Marshall.

The family would like to give special thanks to Zion's Way Hospice, especially Rachel, Hilda, Tauna, Bailee, and Zhailaa for their loving care.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 11am at the Cross Hollows LDS Stake Center located at 2830 W. Cody Dr., Cedar City, UT. Viewings will be held Wednesday Sept 17th from 6-8pm at Southern Utah Mortuary and Thursday Sept. 18th from 9:30-10:30am at the Stake Center, Internment will be at the Cedar City Cemetery under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. To view a life stream of the service and share online condolences, please visit www.mortuary.org