The Acknowledgment and celebration of his life will be Friday, January 28, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 3103 E. Craig Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah. A visitation will take place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. before the service at the church. Interment will take place after the service, at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah. On Thursday, January 27, a visitation will take place between 6:30 and 9:00 p.m. at the same church as the service. It is respectfully requested strong scents and perfumes be avoided if possible, due to some family members' extreme sensitivity. Please observe all current regulations regarding face coverings. The service will be available online at: https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://mywebcast.churchofjesuschrist.org/Events/saltlakeeastmillcreekstake__;!!M2D_dUfSiN4E!aa8adTT9lT-kfCjXH0aNx9ZR1_6UlKrrhyWhud_uCnSpmCfx4YjLXIuh0bcXhvaHoWkbixc6AK2c$ [mywebcast[.]churchofjesuschrist[.]org]
Ellis was born in Ferron, Utah, on May 28, 1936, to Peter Clayton Worthen and Vernell Seely Worthen. He attended Carbon High School in Price, Utah, graduating in 1954. He went on to attend (on a football scholarship!) the College of Eastern Utah, where he earned his Associate of Science in 1956. He attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, earning his Bachelor of Arts in 1958, Master of Arts in 1966, and Dr. of Philosophy in 1972.
While attending BYU, Ellis met the girl that would later become his wife. He and Olga married in 1959, in the Los Angeles Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They raised a family of six children.
Ellis began his teaching career in 1960 as the Elementary and Secondary Music Educator for the West Side School District, in Dayton, Idaho. In 1962 he taught Secondary Music at Uintah High School, in Vernal, Utah. He returned to BYU in 1965 as the Graduate Assistant in Music Theory and conductor of the ROTC Chorus. In 1967 he became the Music Department Chairman for Band, Music History, Music Education, and Music Theory at Northern Montana College, where he also took part in the planning of the Music Building and developed the Bachelor of Education degree in music. In 1970 he made what he later considered one of the best decisions in his life, accepting the position as the Elementary and Secondary Music Director for the Church College of Western Samoa. His CCWS marching band won two national championships and gave command performances for Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and Samoa, and King Malietoa Tanumafili II of Samoa. When he returned to the United States, he taught Concert and Jazz Band at Granger High School and music at two elementary schools. In 1975, he became the Music and Fine Arts Supervisor for the Granite School District. His most cherished experiences were the performances and tours with the Granite Youth Symphony over twenty-two years. The tours took place in twenty-three states, two provinces of Canada and included performances at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall.
Throughout his life, Dr. Worthen held many positions, was presented with numerous awards, and received many honors related to his work in education. Among these were Utah’s Outstanding Music Educator, the National Federation of Interscholastic Music Association’s Outstanding Music Educator, the President of Young Audiences of Utah, member of the Advisory Committees for the Utah Symphony, Ballet West, and Utah Opera, and Board of Directors member for Utah Alliance for Arts and Humanities Education. He was responsible for the Utah Youth Symphony Festival, Utah High School Band Music Festival, and the Utah State Solo and Ensemble Festival. He received the Minute Man Award for Outstanding Service Rendered to the Utah National Guard. There were many others, but one he always looked forward to and was very honored by was Guest Conductor.
Dr. Worthen loved all the students with whom he was privileged to associate. He had a deep affection for the students in Samoa, of which he said: “My work with the students at CCWS was satisfying beyond description.” and “It was a privilege and an honor for me to be able to share three years of my life with such wonderful, appreciative, and loving people.” Of his teaching career, Ellis said: “Without question, I had the best professional life a person could hope for. I worked with incredible students and had countless numbers of the best professional colleagues a person could want.” Through all of his teaching career and achievements, Dr. Worthen viewed his students’ success as the most important and satisfying.
Ellis enjoyed fishing, golfing, reading, traveling, studying, playing music (especially on his baritone ukulele), photography, and sharing his unique sense of humor. Through his travels, he always took his camera and captured thousands of beautiful photographs. Over 15 years he would share the beauty of nature by selecting the 13 best photographs of the year and creating an annual calendar for his family and neighbors. He loved camping in his RV where he could pursue all of his favorite hobbies with those closest to him. He considered himself very blessed in life for his family and they were very blessed for him.
Ellis is survived by his wife, Olga; his children Douglas (Shannon); Joseph (Kathy); Steven; Roger; Brenda (Bruce); Paul (Andrea); 11 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; his brother-in-law Garth Noyes and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters Marian and Connie; his brother-in-law Lewis Allen and his grandson Justin.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Granite Youth Symphony at: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.successfund.com/graniteyouthsymphony__;!!M2D_dUfSiN4E!aa8adTT9lT-kfCjXH0aNx9ZR1_6UlKrrhyWhud_uCnSpmCfx4YjLXIuh0bcXhvaHoWkbi0q7L6Op$ [successfund[.]com] Or to the CCWS Alumni Association at CCWS Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 798, Lehi, Utah. 84043
