Edson Maughan

Edson Glade Maughan reluctantly left his sweetheart and love of his life Bonnie, on the evening of July 12, 2020 after a three year battle of pure stubbornness. He died in Surprise, Arizona of natural causes leaving behind a worn out body from a life well spent to have his spirit return to his heavenly home to be with his Lord and Savior and other family who had been waiting patiently for his return. Glade was a gift from heaven sent to the world on February 27, 1936. He landed in Preston, Idaho to be raised by William and Alice Maughan, and to be the younger brother to Gordon and Bonnie his two siblings. His family moved from Idaho to Salt Lake City when he was a toddler. He was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Salt Lake Tabernacle at the age of 9. Soon after his family moved to Pasadena, California where he spent the remainder of his youth. Glade was short in stature, handsome, athletic, hard working, and well liked as a youth. He sold papers and gained recognition for being a top salesman. He stated it was more his love for chocolate bars than his love of sales that was his motivating force. In Junior High he enjoyed being on the Cheer Squad and was noted for his strength. He enjoyed boxing and arm wrestling as well. He was called on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He served in the East Central States Mission from April 1956 through May 1958. Most of his mission was spent in Kentucky and he came to greatly love the state and its people and spoke often and fondly of his mission through out his lifetime. After his mission he served his country in the Armies 101st airborne as a paratrooper. He loved jumping out of planes. He had an adventurous soul and loved being in the sky. When he returned home to Pasadena from the service he was the lead in the church road show singing and playing guitar when he met Bonnie May Norton, also in the road show, in the summer of 1962. He was 10 years older and her parents weren’t so keen on him courting their daughter, he tried getting their approval for some time but when it was clear they would not concede he and Bonnie decided to elope in May 1963 and that was a pivotal moment in his life. With Bonnie’s love and support Glade felt he could accomplish anything! It made all the difference! A year later they were sealed in the Los Angelos Temple for time and all eternity. Their life soon was filled with six children Shon Teres Ross, Susan Lorraine Duffin, Eric Glade Maughan, Michele Louis Jones, Michael John Maughan, David Matthew Maughan and countless grandchildren(40) and great grandchildren(9 so far). He was married to his sweetheart for 57 years. With her by his side he went on to become a pilot and fly airplanes and Hot Air balloons. He built his own home and remodeled several others. He was a general contractor and built hundreds of pools and owned multiple businesses. He went back to school in his late fifties and studied chiropractics and nutrition and gained his doctorate and blessed his family and others tremendously with his talents. He played the guitar and had a beautiful singing voice. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. He was an artist and created many pieces of art work including many waterfalls and water features for commercial establishments. He loved the movies, golf, and fly fishing if he got the chance. He loved taking his family camping and on adventures to see the world creating so very many memories for all of us to treasure. He loved going out target shooting with his boys or four wheeling with them. He was slow to anger but would fight a man twice his size to defend a woman’s honor or to protect those he loved. His greatest love beyond his wife and family was serving the Lord which he did in many capacities through out the years. Whether it was serving as a Home Teacher, Youth Leader, Ward Clerk, Elder’s Quorum President, High Priest Group Leader or Ward or Stake Missionary (just to name a few) it didn’t matter; as long as he was serving the Lord he was happy. He loved the gospel and missionary work and shared his testimony with anyone who would listen. He taught himself to speak Spanish so he could share his testimony with the many Hispanic workers that he came in contact with as a contractor bringing many to the knowledge of the gospel in the process. This gave him great joy because He knew the blessing it brought to them in their lives. Glade loved many things and was loved by so many. It is hard to express all that he was and all that he accomplished in a few short paragraph’s. He loved Dr. Who and to sum it all up Glade was much like the Tardis. He may have looked ordinary on the outside but what was on the inside was so much greater and filled with so much adventure!! Glade was living proof that Giants do live among us, they just sometimes come in small packages. In lieu of flowers the family asks for you to submit a check to them made out to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Missionary Fund or made out to Bonnie (the two loves of his life) on Glade’s behalf so they can thank you appropriately. It will be sent forward. Bonnie Maughan 12326 W. Vesta View Dr. Surprise, Arizona 85378