New mission presidents
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Seven new mission presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service about July 1, 2009.
Larry Higbee Gardner, 59, and Carol Ann Barton Gardner, six children, Montana Billings Mission; St. George 16th Ward, St. George Utah East Stake. Brother Gardner is a high priest group leader assistant and a former stake president and counselor, bishop, high councilor, ward Young Men president, Scoutmaster and missionary in the Denmark Mission. Owner, Dean Gardner Investments. Born in St. George, Utah, to Dean Crosby and Maree Higbee Gardner. Sister Gardner is a counselor in a ward Young Women presidency and a former counselor in stake Young Women and Primary presidencies, counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency, Nursery leader, Cub Scout leader, and visiting teaching supervisor. Born in St. George, Utah, to Junius K. and Margaret Ann Russell Barton.
Michael Steven Headlee, 58, and Pamela Steele Headlee, 10 children, Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa Mission; Sunset 3rd Ward, St. George Utah Sunset Stake. Brother Headlee is an area executive secretary in the Africa Southeast Area and a former counselor in the New York Rochester Mission presidency, regional welfare agent, bishop, humanitarian service missionary in Africa and missionary in the Franco Belgium Mission. Retired owner, Stan Steele Agency Inc. Born in Logan, Utah, to Richard Harold and Mary Elaine Mendenhall Headlee. Sister Headlee is a missionary in the Africa Southeast Area and a former counselor in a stake Relief Society presidency, ward Relief Society, Young Women and Primary president, seminary teacher and temple ordinance worker and shift supervisor. Born in Canandaigua, N.Y., to Stanley Orrin and Edith Helen Purdy Steele.
Milan Foster Kunz, 54, and Leslie Niven Kunz, five children, Nebraska Omaha Mission; Downingtown Ward, Valley Forge Pennsylvania Stake. Brother Kunz is a seminary teacher and a former counselor in a stake presidency, temple ordinance worker, bishop, stake and ward Young Men president, ward mission leader and missionary in the Ireland Belfast Mission. Retired senior vice president, GlaxoSmithKline. Born in Washington, D.C., to Foster Merlen and Helena Millard Kunz. Sister Kunz is a counselor in the ward Primary presidency and is a former seminary teacher, ward Young Women president and counselor, ward Relief Society and Primary president and missionary in the Texas San Antonio Mission. Born in Van Nuys, Calif., to Joseph Errol and Lois Arlene Adee Niven.
Jerald Lynn Martin, 55, and Gemie Johnson Martin, eight children, California San Fernando Mission; Plano 4th Ward, Plano Texas Stake. Brother Martin is a former bishop, stake Young Men president, Scoutmaster and assistant, high priest group leader and missionary in the Argentina Cordoba Mission. Retired senior vice president, PepsiCo Financial Shared Services, PepsiCo. Born in Palo Alto, Calif., to Marion Borges and Melba Jaussi Martin. Sister Martin is a former ward Young Women adviser, ward Relief Society president, counselor in ward Relief Society and Primary presidencies, meetinghouse librarian, Cub Scout leader and enrichment leader. Born in Moab, Utah, to Loren Hills and Genevieve Holyoak Johnson.
Stephen Hunter Tyler, 49, and Donna Jeanne Eady Tyler, six children, Peru Lima Central Mission; Highland 2nd Ward, Redlands California Stake. Brother Tyler is a high priest group leader and a former counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, high councilor, branch president and missionary in the Peru Arequipa Mission. Administrative law judge, former acting Chief Administrative Law Judge for the State of California. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to James Leslie and Carolyn Jean Crittenden Tyler. Sister Tyler is a seminary teacher and a former branch Sunday School teacher, ward Primary president, counselor in a ward Young Women presidency, stake Young Women camp director, ward Primary teacher and compassionate service leader. Born in Niagara Falls, N.Y., to Donald James and Jean Mary Pogorzelec Eady.
Helton Carlos Pimenta Vecchi, 43, and Lilian Oliveira de Medeiros Vecchi, four children, Brazil Salvador South Mission; Alphaville Ward, Barueri Brazil Stake. Brother Vecchi is a counselor in a branch presidency at the Brazil Missionary Training Center and a former bishop and counselor, branch president and counselor, high councilor, ward mission leader and missionary in the Portugal Lisbon Mission. Finance director, Orthofix Brazil. Born in Ribeir? Preto, Brazil, to Sergio Vecchi and Marly Pimenta Vecchi. Sister Vecchi is a ward Primary president and a former ward Relief Society president and counselor, counselor in a ward Primary presidency, ward Primary pianist and ward Relief Society chorister and teacher. Born in Ribeir? Preto, Brazil, to Dilson Nunes de Medeiros and Carmen Oliveira de Medeiros.
James Stanford Watkins, 56, and Murlene Brown Watkins, two children, Spain Madrid Mission; Crystal Springs 2nd Ward, San Francisco California Stake. Brother Watkins is a counselor in the California San Francisco Mission presidency and a former counselor in a stake presidency, bishop and counselor, high councilor, ward clerk and missionary in the Mexican Mission. Retired managing director, Bank of America. Born in New York, N.Y., to George Elwin and Geraldine Swensen Watkins. Sister Watkins is a ward Relief Society teacher and a former ward Relief Society president and counselor, ward Primary president, ward choir director, gospel doctrine teacher and missionary in the Spain Seville Mission. Born in Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, to Murlyn Lamar and Marzelle Whetten Brown.
