Henry Lee Miner

Henry Lee Miner was born on February 14, 1941, in Logan, Utah, the fifth of eight children of Glen Bryant and Caroline Eyring Miner. He was named after his mother’s brother, Henry Eyring. He passed away, surrounded by his family, after a long illness and battle with cancer. 

His siblings remember him as an exuberant child, full of creative energy on the dairy farm whether he was building elaborate tree houses, making and filling a treasure box, or proving his strength by lifting the cement mixer.

On the dairy farm he milked cows in the early morning and after school. He still had time to be on the wrestling team as well as play the trumpet and set up a dance band with his fellow high school musicians who called him “Hot Lips Henry.” As a senior, he was a National Merit Scholar.

After a year of studying at Brigham Young University, Henry served a Latter-day Saint mission to West Germany. There he discovered his great love of languages and literature. On his return Henry finished his undergraduate degree in German at the University of Utah, finishing his German Masters degree in 1970 and German PhD in 1972. Always a curious student, he also received an MBA from the University of Evansville.

He married Marilyn Shipp, and they were blessed with seven children. After that marriage ended, Henry married Kay Stanford Ahern and welcomed her two children into the family.

Henry became a Professor of German at the University of Evansville from 1971 until his retirement in 2007. He loved languages, spoke and taught Russian and spoke or read in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Chinese. After his retirement, he and his wife Kay moved to St. George. His love of travel led him and Kay to teaching English at Shandong University, China for two years. He was a religious man and served as Branch President of the LDS Church in Indiana and always sang in the church choir. They also served as ordinance workers at the St. George Temple.

His sense of humor was infectious, and he will be greatly missed for how exuberantly he lit up the room, even as he was on his death bed. He is survived by his wife, Kay Stanford Ahern, and his children, Lorene Kamalu (Layne), Joy Hafen (Jon), John Miner (Alana), Robert Miner (Amanda), Joseph Miner (Melanie) Catherine Craner (Matt), Elizabeth Ashton (Brigham), Patrick Ahern (JoAnna), and Megan Scalise (Chris). Henry is survived by 39 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. He will be missed by his siblings, Rosemary Fairbourn, Edward Miner (Dawna), Camilla Smith (George), Joseph Miner (Gwen) and Steven Miner (Marilyn).

In lieu of flowers, send a donation to a worthy cause.