Talents to Last a Lifetime

Harold Felt’s interests are certainly varied; they range from mortuaries to music and from rabbits to woodwork. Always eager to learn and experiment, Brother Felt has enjoyed improving his talents.

As a young man, he worked as a licensed mortician in Ogden, Utah. He opened his own mortuary in Brigham City after marrying Lillian Hayes. Although he sold the business and retired, he filled his time with new interests. He enrolled in a correspondence course in photography and opened Felt’s Heirloom Photography. He was elected Brigham City’s mayor, raised rabbits and African violets, earned his pilot’s license and became co-owner of Seagull Aviation, and tried his hand at building grandfather clocks.

But one of his greatest loves has been music. An adept violin player, he often accompanied his wife when she performed. Sometimes he even sang with her. After refining his woodworking skills on clocks, he decided to venture into violin making.

Now at the age of eighty-three, he spends many hours crafting beautiful instruments out of different delicate woods; throughout his home are scattered violins in various stages of construction. He recently completed a 3/4 size violin on which he taught his grandson to play.

Brother Felt freely shares his gift and love for music with others. He was concert master with the Northern Utah Symphony Orchestra, director of the Box Elder stake choir, and organizer of the Senior Swingers, a band of senior citizens who play for three hours without using any sheet music. The group plays regularly at nursing homes in the area, as well as parties and other community activities.

Brother Felt is a high priests group instructor in the Brigham City Ninth Ward, Brigham City Utah Box Elder Stake.—Pat Davies, Brigham City, Utah