Charles Cavett Cummins Jr. (Chuck) passed away June 28, 2024. He was born June 19,1939 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming to Charles Cavett Cummins Sr. and Thelma Fife Dixon. He had a love-hate relationship with Jackson Hole. He loved the mountains, scenery and wildlife, but hated the snow and cold.

He graduated from Wilson High School in 1957 as the class president and valedictorian. He moved to Utah where he earned his degrees in mathematics, physics and chemistry. He obtained his doctorate degree in 1977 from Brigham Young University with an emphasis in educational administration. While working for the Utah State Board of Education, he developed a computerized progress reporting program for elementary schools for the state.

Chuck’s passion for math and talent for teaching was expressed during his career. He believed in the challenges of education and stimulation through never-ending education of the mind. He taught at Springville High School and Salt Lake Community College as a professor. He found joy seeing students succeed from beginning math to engineering mathematics. It wasn’t unusual for him to tutor his students on the phone, at his home or in class to make sure each student understood math and passed his class.

Some of his favorite things to say were “all mountain lions walked single file, at least the one that I saw did,” “being fair and equitable to both sides of an equation does not disturb the integrity of the original statement,” and “improper planning and preparation produces poor puky performance.”

He worked with Salt Lake Community College and pioneered today’s online learning by starting telecourses on channel 9. His children were unable to go anywhere without running into a former student or somebody who saw him on TV and wanted to watch him finish the math problem.

Chuck married Elaine Lucas on August 12,1966 in the Salt Lake Temple and resided in Springville and Spanish Fork Utah. They have four children: Holly (Jon) Ellis of Spanish Fork, Utah, Wylin (Kristen) Cummins of Mapleton, Utah, Charmay (Aaron) Hill of Lehi, Utah, Richard (Julie) Cummins of Spanish Fork, Utah. They have 8 grandchildren: Brooklynn (Tyson) McNeil, LeAnn (Marcus) Stephens, Andrew (Makayla) Hill, Ammon Cummins, Kaison Hill, Ethan Cummins, Brenna Cummins, and Lily Hill.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Charlene Regel.

Chuck had a great love for music. He started playing the organ for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was 9. He had several opportunities to share his talent and would often stay the entire day to be the organist for many religious denominations during his military service. He had a lifetime calling of serving as the ward organist. His talent led him to join and accompany the Utah Valley Children’s Choir for 12 years, sharing his testimony through music throughout the world.

He had a love of animals and nature and found relaxation in beautifying his yard. He was well known for working in his yard well after dark with a flashlight and a perfectly measured 2×4 labeled “CANAS.” Spacing was mathematically perfect for his canna lilies. He was well known for his beautiful yard and was regularly named yard of the week and yard of month.

A viewing will be held at Walker Mortuary, 187 S. Main Street, Spanish Fork, Utah on Tuesday July 2, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. A viewing will also be held prior to the funeral service on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 from 9:45 – 10:45 am. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, on July 3, 2024 at the church located at 1158 E. 1240 S. Spanish Fork, Utah. Interment services will follow at the Spanish Fork Cemetery.

The Cummins family would like to thank the nurses and hospice care for the outstanding support and care received at Hearthstone Manor care facility. They showed compassion and love for Chuck and his family during his stay there.

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