Brother Dennis (Deny) Earl passed away and left us on December 6th. He is missed by all who worked with him and came to know him. We also miss his wife, Diane, and her wonderful southern accent. Diane moved out of the ward and back to her home in Florida.
Tribute by John Carpenter
Over the past 28 years, I’ve done a lot of walking on my own. Almost into, on top of, and over every corner in northern Utah County.
It’s 26 miles up Alpine Loop, past Cascade Springs, into Soldiers Field in Heber Valley’s Midway!
It’s 14.5 miles to Vivian Park up Provo River Canyon.
It’s 13.5 miles to Saratoga Springs Temple.
It’s also 13.5 miles over Sun-Crest to Draper Temple.
It’s 7.5 miles to Lindon Temple. (Shorter if you just walk the Murdock Canal paved trail.)
It’s 7 miles to Lehi Temple.
All are very good walks.
For the last seven of those years, I’ve walked with “DUKE” as he spoke of God and exemplified His Son, Jesus, the living Christ, His Savior! He often spoke of his wife, Diane, their son, Jeff, and daughter, Carrie.
He revered the prophets. It was such a rare privilege to walk with, be taught by, and to know DENNY EARL!
Never a disparaging word.
Never an off-color story.
Never a profane oath!
Ever the “Christlike Man!”
I had been a missionary in Russia 🇷🇺. He was a missionary in Japan 🇯🇵! Each time we parted, he would say, “Sionara” and I would say, “DosVeeDonyah!”
Thanks to Diane’s thoughtful invitation, our last trip together was Friday, December 5, 2025. I told him that of all my hikes, all of the best ones were with him. Then he whispered, “I’m ready to go!” And he did! It was Saturday, December 6th, 2026, at 12:09 p.m. MST. Fortunately, because of the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I was there witnessing his close family bid him adieu.
Denny’s mortal remains are interred very close to his favorite airfield in Pensacola, Florida, where the Earls lived and where Denny served as bishop. Denny Roland Earl “THE DUKE” is now more alive than ever! This I know.
Obituary
Dennis Roland Earl, 84, Cedar Hills, UT, passed away December 6, 2025, in American Fork, UT, from Pancreatic Cancer. Born January 31, 1941, at Logan, UT, 2nd son of Lemuel Rice Earl & Nana Louis Burroughs. They resided in Fielding, UT, until 1948 and then on to Mendon UT, where the family ran Earl's Market.
He graduated from South Cache High School, Hyrum, UT, in 1959 and served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan from 1961 to 1964. He attended college at the University of Utah before becoming an aviation cadet in the U.S. Navy at Pensacola, FL. After completing flight training, he was commissioned an Ensign and began a career of military service. In 1967 he was injured by enemy flak while conducting air strikes over North Vietnam. For his intrepid service, he received the Silver Star and other medals with "V" devices. After returning stateside, he married Mildred Diane Coile in Pensacola. They sealed their marriage in the Logan LDS temple and raised two children, son Jeffrey and daughter Carrie.
Denny retired from the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander and kept his family in Pensacola, where he continued flying until 2007 as a Navy contract pilot, training flight crews. They then moved to Hyrum, UT, where he and his brother L.R. flew as mission pilots with the Civil Air Patrol. Denny & Diane have resided in Cedar Hills for the past seven years.
Denny was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served two tours as Bishop. He was an Eagle Scout, loved camping, ATV riding, walking, skiing, and e-biking.
He is survived by Diane, Jeff, Honolulu, HI, Carrie, West Jordan, UT, sister Elyse Christensen, Hyrum, UT, and brother LR. Earl (Lucia), River Heights, UT, as well as many nieces and nephews and his cherished cat, 'Klinker'.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father.
Interment is at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola.
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