Arthur Daniel Saunders

Arthur Daniel "Danny" Saunders passed away peacefully surrounded by family on August 8, 2017 in Murrieta, California. Danny, mostly called "Dan", was a devoted husband, father, an accomplished cyclist, speed skater, skier, outdoors-man, and an exceptional cabinet maker.

He was born on April 20, 1937 in Murray, Utah to Clifford and Jane Saunders. Dan grew up in Paramount, California and spent most of his young adult years and into his early thirties in Southern California. Dan was a well known member of the Paramount Cycling Club where he competed in cycling, and at the Paramount Iceland skating rink where he also competed in speed skating. In cycling he won many races; his particular specialty was velodrome/track cycling. In fact, Dan was recognized as one of the top 3 amateur track cyclists in the United States during the 1960s. In addition, Dan won several races, medals, trophies, state championships, and competed in the 1964 Olympic Trials held in New York City.

Another passion Dan loved was skiing.  During the winter months in Southern California you would often find him giving ski lessons up at Snow Valley during his days off.  This love for skiing would climax when he and the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in the summer of 1969.  Skiing became a regular routine for him and his family and he was in “skier heaven” and had access to the “greatest snow on earth”. During that same summer of 1969, and during his first week after moving to Salt Lake City, there was a State Championship road cycling race happening down in the Liberty Park area. Just out of pure curiosity, he wanted to see it. As it turns out, Dan casually rode down to watch it and subsequently signed up to race in it - he won the 1969 Utah State Cycling Championship.

Dan's gift of woodworking and love for cabinetry is how he earned his living.  For more than 50 years Dan made cabinets of all types, mainly kitchen cabinets but he worked on many exciting and unique projects during the time he owned and operated "Dan Saunders Cabinet".  He ran his business for more than 40 years in Salt Lake City up until his retirement in 2013.  Cabinet making was never a burden for him, on the contrary, it was his love of life.  The quality and craftsmanship in Dan's cabinet work were second to none.

Dan is survived in death by his wife Charollete Jan Bonds Saunders, and 5 children:  Mark Saunders, Judy Saunders, Pam Saunders Porath, Arthur Lamar Saunders, and Matthew Lane Saunders, and many grand and great-grandchildren.  He is preceded in death by his son Philip Mark Saunders (d. 1980).

A viewing will be held from 6-8 pm on August 18th at the Holladay 28th Ward (2625 East Milo Way, Holladay, Utah).  On Saturday, August 19th, at the Holladay 28th Ward there will be a viewing from 9:30-10:30am and a memorial service will follow at 11:00 am.  Immediately after the memorial service, Dan will be interred in the Memorial Holladay Cemetery (4900 South Memory Lane, Holladay, Utah). Guestbook to post messages and tributes for the family available at: HolbrookMortuary.com