Earl Dean Dayton

Mr. Dayton

Earl Dean Dayton left his earthly home January 22, 2018 due to complications of Parkinson’s disease and myelodysplastic syndrome. He was at his home surrounded by family who loved him dearly.

Earl was the youngest child of Nellie and Forrest Dayton born Sep. 7, 1930 in Heber City, Utah. He lived his entire life in his beloved Heber Valley except for the two years he spent in the Army serving his country in the Korean War.

Earl was a hard worker. He was employed at the Heber Exchange working alongside his dad. He was also a barber and had a little shop for many years until the “big Safeway fire” burned it down. Soon after that, he took his shop on the road giving many haircuts to the homebound. Earl became a school teacher after graduating from BYU. He taught many years before becoming an administrator. He was the Principal at the old North School and the first Principal of the JR Smith Elementary. He found great joy being with children; many loving birthday spankings were given. He was grateful for the sweet relationships he had with the many teachers and staff members. They loved to see what costume he would come up with for Halloween, his favorite holiday. He also worked as an ambulance driver for Wasatch county. When he retired from the school district he worked with Ray Farrell and friends wiring houses for many years.

Earl loved music. His mellow tenor voice comforted many restless babies and countless broken hearts as he sang at funerals around the valley, often with his dear sister Merle. Dad loved to dance, and he also played the clarinet and saxophone. He was a founding member of the Senior Citizen’s M & M Band. He loved performing with some of his dearest friends.

Earl LOVED sports! He loved BYU and rarely missed a game. He had season tickets to basketball and football games for many years. This past year he enjoyed season tickets to BYU women’s volleyball. Earl played tennis, baseball and softball. In his retirement years he loved shooting pool with his buddies.

He was a faithful member of the LDS church and served in many capacities. He loved the Savior and taught us all by his example. He volunteered in countless organizations. He was honored to be named as Grand Marshall for the Wasatch County Fair Days with his wife Donna. Other recognitions include State Volunteer of the Year for Wasatch County, Citizen of the Year for the Wasatch County Rotary Club, and he was inducted into the Wasatch School District Hall of Fame.

Earl met his greatest blessing at the young age of 4, his sweet wife Donna. They lived only a block from each other, later married, and built a home between their childhood homes. Together they danced and sang their way through life. Earl and Donna attended church together and were in the same Wasatch High school class of 1948. He was proud to be a Wasp.

His greatest joy and blessing was his family. There was great mutual admiration between Earl and his siblings Helen Cluff, Dorothy Kohler, Bert Dayton and Merle Rasband. All preceded him in death. He loved spending time with his extended family. He and Donna were blessed with 6 children - Susan (Glenn) Singley, Phillip (Kim) Dayton, David (Dorothy) Dayton, Linda (Rob) Landgren, Laurel (Brent) Martindale and Nancy (Lael) Henderson. He cherished a house filled with his children, in-laws and grandchildren. He truly was a rich man. He had 24 grandchildren - 12 girls and 12 boys, and 24 great grandchildren with two more on the way.

We want to thank his dear friends that have shown so much love and support over the years. He lived an amazing life that was filled with so much joy. A special thanks to the caregivers of Applegate Health Care. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 27 in the old 2nd Ward, Heber Utah Stake Center, 200 West and 100 North at 11:00 a.m., with a visitation prior to services, 9:00am – 10:30am. There will also be a visitation Friday night 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., same location.

In lieu of flowers take your sweetheart dancing and to dinner.