Roy David Tea
November 19, 1927 - March 1, 2017Service Information
Viewing March 24, 2017 at 6:00 PM
2925 Bengal Blvd, Cottonwood Heights, UT
Viewing Directions: click HERE
ViewingMarch 25, 2017 at 9:30 AM
2925 Bengal Blvd, Cottonwood Heights, UT
Viewing Directions: click HERE
Funeral Service March 25, 2017 at 11:00 AM
2925 Bengal Blvd, Cottonwood Heights, UT
Service Directions: click HERE
Roy David Tea
Roy (LeRoy) David Tea was born on November 19, 1927 in Riverton, Utah to Charles Edward and Margaret Antonia Weenig Tea. Roy was the last of 13 children. His family called him “Bud”. He was grateful to his parents because they wanted so many children and for their kind and loving and righteous nature.
Roy attended the Riverton Grade School and then Jordan High School where he played football and basketball. After graduation he enlisted in the army and received his basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was then sent to Japan in the occupation forces with the 61st Field Artillery Battalion of the First Calvary Division.
When his enlistment was up he returned home in December of 1947 and then attended Brigham Young University in the spring of 1948. He received his degree in Geology in 1952. When at BYU he met the love of his life, Barbara Belle Manwaring to whom he was sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on August 22,1952. Roy served in many church positions: as coach, assistant Stake and assistant Zone Athletic Director for 23 years. He served in the bishopric, 3 times as Sunday School Superintendent, High Priest Group Leader, Ward Mission Leader and was an usher in the Salt Lake Tabernacle for 22 years.
Roy was employed by the Utah Department of Transportation for 35 years; as a surveyor for 6 years and District Materials Engineer for 29 years. He assisted in the survey location of Interstate 15 from Utah County to Weber County, I-80 through Salt Lake City, 700 East and many other projects.
He attended civil engineering night classes at the University of Utah, and eventually received his professional engineers license and belonged to the Utah and National Society of Professional Engineers. He taught state employees asphalt and concrete classes at the U of U & Westminister College for 2 weeks each year for about 10 years. Upon his retirement in 1987, he worked as a consultant for Pete Merrick ans Sons Consulting Firm in Nevada and also the Federal Highway Administration for 8 weeks at the Corps of Engineers in Champagne, Illinois in 1988 & 1989.
When he retired he joined two National Organizations: The Oregon-California Trails Association, (OCTA) Utah Crossroads Chapter and the Lincoln Highway Associations. He was the foremost authority for his day on the Hastings Cutoff and the Bidwell/Bartleson Trails. He was very active as a trail guide and marking and locating the historic emigrant trails across Utah and writing many tour guides. He received many awards: One for outstanding writing for the Overland Journal the National quarterly magazine publication for OCTA and others for outstanding volunteer service. The Utah Historical Society honored him with an award for the preservation of the trails by marking and photographing. He now has a worldwide web site for the Hastings & Bidwell trails.
He loved to travel with his family on vacations. He traversed all of the US and Canada on Amtrak with his brother LeGrande and also automobile trips with Grand & his brother Charlie. He took his sisters Frances and Lola and later his niece Sherry on many trips with his wife Barbara.
He is survived by his wife Barbara, daughters Tamara Elsberry, Tiffani Adamson (Chris), sons Ray (Nancy), Darin (Ana). 19 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday March 25th at 11:00 a.m., at the Brighton 6th ward chapel. 2925 East Bengal Blvd. Viewings will be held on Friday March 24th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and Saturday prior to the funeral services from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
My sympathies go out to Roy’s family and those connected to him. I am one of those fortunate enough to have been influenced by Roy and his work on the history of the Hastings Trail and the Utah west desert. Roy may have worn many other hats during his life, but I believe he was first and foremost a legendary historian.unequalled by his incredible attention to detail, facts, painstaking work and respect for those early immigrants who travelled on the trail. Roy, as only a handful of true historians knew, that the real story and emphasis on any historical event lies in representing and respecting the people above all other details. History would not be alive if not for the portrayal of those who suffered the trials, hardships and privations to which most historical events are linked. He skillfully paid tribute to the people without overshadowing the event. I recognize and appreciate the enthusiasm shown in his work and expeditions.. He is missed and honored by those influenced by his work. He is remembered as a loving, grateful child, husband, father and grandfather, and the example he gave for the rest of us.