Daniel Ray Roberts

Daniel Ray Roberts passed away at home Sunday morning as the sun was ready to rise with his beloved, Cindy Roberts, by his side following several days of loving time with family and friends.
He was born January 20, 1950 in Palo Alto, California to Claude and Lola Roberts of Nebraska and grew up in Casper Wyoming. In 1969 he married his love, Lynn Moravec. Together they had 2 small children, daughter, Jamie Beth Roberts (Eckenrode), and son, Jeremy Ray Roberts. They were married for nine years. Their marriage ended abruptly and sadly with the unexpected death of Lynn.
Dan remarried Cynthia Marie Tankersley Nickeson June 2, 1979 following the death of her spouse, James William Nickeson and became the father in every way to Cindy’s two small children, Jamie Suzanne Nickeson (Jenkins) and Kristopher James Nolting-Nickeson. The family moved from Casper to Logan, Utah for Daniel to attend graduate school. The family just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this summer.
Dan taught special education at Logan High School for two years and then joined the staff at Bear River Association of Governments, helping to form and direct the Housing Authority. He later helped with training and job relocation for dislocated workers, specifically for Thiokol employees. Following the termination of that program he began working at Moore Business/RR Donnelley as a programmer and worked there until his retirement in February of 2014.
Daniel was involved in the community and served on various boards, including CAPSA and Cache Valley Unitarian Universalist Church during its early years, also serving at CVUU lay leadership. He served briefly as a volunteer at the English Language Center until he began a missionary calling for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at the Family History Center until his health began to decline.
Dan loved theater and participated in productions at the Barn Theater in Tremonton, Festival of the West Pageant, Cache Theatre Company, and is fondly remembered by many as Scrooge, roaming the halls of the Alliance for the Varied Arts during the annual Holly Faire.
Daniel was a kind and compassionate man. He was loved by those whose lives he touched, human or pet. He was known for his humor in all situations. On the last day of being able to communicate with his family and after probable last goodbyes, he called his son back into the room and said in his weak and halting voice, “We need to have a party.” His wife asked what kind of party he wanted. After a long pause, he said, “Tell Jokes.” Cindy and Jeremy grabbed their joke books. Daniel told the first joke: “I just met a man with a wooden leg named Mr. Smith…oh, really? What was the name of the other leg?” After a very long pause, Daniel gave a slow, “Ha…ha…ha.” The next hour was spent reading jokes to Dan with an occasional, “Ha…ha…ha.” He will be missed.
A visitation will be held Friday, August 16th, from 6 to 8 pm at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center in Logan. A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 14th, beginning at 10:30 am at the Allen-Hall Mortuary Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in his name to the Intermountain Gossner Cancer Center or to the Cache Humane Society.
Daniel is survived by his wife, Cynthia Roberts; two daughters, Jamie Suzanne Jenkins (Jody), Jamie Beth Eckenrode (Marcus); two sons, Kristopher James Nolting-Nickeson (Wendy) and Jeremy Ray Roberts (Shanna); seven grandchildren; sister Claudia Jean Roberts.
Daniel has chosen to donate his body for research to the University of Utah in the study of Metastatic Melanoma. Internment will be at a later date.