Roy David

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.