David Edmund Mecham May 18, 1937 - December 22, 2020

David Edmund Mecham, 83, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend passed away December 22, 2020 due to complications from a recent surgery which led to kidney failure.

David was born in Provo, Utah May 18, 1937 to Fred Duke and Marian Vincent Peay Mecham.  His early years were spent in Provo on his family’s dairy farm.  He recalled with fondness the days spent at his father’s side milking cows and working in the fields. He talked often of experiences working alongside his father, mother, and siblings.  He and his siblings learned the value of hard work from their parents which continued throughout each of their lives. He loved to tell his grandkids stories of his childhood, including how he learned to drive a team of horses at the age of six in order to help his father on the farm. At the age of 11 his family moved to Genola where they continued in the dairy business. His growing up years in Genola were precious to him because of experiences with family and the friends that he made. Those friendships have lasted a lifetime.

David graduated from Payson High School in 1955.  After graduation, he continued helping his father on the family farm, but also started working at Roe’s Bakery in Payson. Like everything else in his life, he poured his heart and soul into the baking profession for 65 years.  He was well known for his skill as a baker, and he loved teaching those skills to his children and grandchildren.  Baking and working alongside his family were lifelong pursuits that he loved which carried on until his passing.

He met his eternal companion, Verla Kay Houser, on August 6, 1957. They were engaged a few short weeks later on August the 20th and married on November 15, 1957.  They were later sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on September 22, 1961.

The two of them have spent the last 63 years together. They raised their family of seven children in Genola, Spanish Fork, Richfield, and Payson.  Also, over a period of twelve years, they were foster parents to Timothy Charles, Gilbert Martin, Joann Charlie, and Augustina Peterson who they welcomed to their home through the LDS Church’s Native American Placement Program.

David and Verla moved to Mount Pleasant, Utah in 2015 in order to be closer to family.  In each place that they have lived, they developed cherished lifelong friendships which carry on to this day.  Together they loved and supported their family in all of their endeavors.  Their family is their greatest joy. Through the years David and Verla could typically be seen at ballgames and other events their children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren were involved in. David loved to see his family succeed. He was always quick to offer words of encouragement in good and difficult times.

David loved to serve and during their years in Spanish Fork, he helped establish the Spanish Fork Ambulance Association. He served as a volunteer EMT for 8 years until he moved with his family to Richfield where he owned and operated Parson’s Bakery. While living in Richfield, he demonstrated his selfless and loving character when his daughter Marian was in need of a kidney transplant.  Without hesitation, he stepped up and donated one of his kidneys to her which extended and greatly improved her quality of life.

David had a love of the outdoors.  He loved horses and hunting with his family.  He loved reminiscing and telling hunting stories of time spent in the South Fork of Provo Canyon with his father, uncles, brothers, sons, and other family members.  In his later years, he enjoyed riding ATVs with family and friends in various locations throughout the state.  He simply loved being in the mountains.

David had a love of the gospel and was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Over the years he served in many callings, but the calling closest to his heart was serving in the temple.  He served in the Provo, Payson, and Manti Temples as an ordinance worker for over 20 years.  The last few years he and Verla became interested in family history.  They recently completed the temple work for 300 of their ancestors.  David was blessed with great faith and honored his priesthood. As a result, he was able to bless the lives of his family countless times through blessings and prayers on their behalf.

David was loved by his family and friends and will be greatly missed.  He is survived by Verla, his wife of 63 years, his children: Bryan (Trina) of Mount Pleasant, Lecia Lyon of Mount Pleasant, Michael of Spanish Fork, Daniel (Jana) of Lehi, Darren (Miranda) of Mona, and Amy (Brad) Jones of West Valley, 20 grandchildren, and 32 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his daughter Marian, a grandson, Derek Potter; a son-in-law Craig Lyon, his parents, sisters: Noreen Clark and Mignon Clark, and brothers: Fred and Ralph.

Funeral services will be held Monday, December 28, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. at Walker Funeal Home in Payson, Utah located at 587 South 100 West.  A viewing for family and friends will be held prior to the service from 12:30-1:30. Please remember that due to Covid-19 precautions, all visitors are required to wear masks.

There will be Live Streaming of the funeral services,  here on David’s obituary page on Monday, December 28, 2020 at 2 :00 p.m.

Interment will be in the Payson City Cemetery.