The life of David Martin Pett is best told beneath the stars of a cool summer night, around a campfire, by the slot caves in Forgotten Canyon at Lake Powell back in its full
glory days. The flavor of our beloved father’s soul is found somewhere in between cosmic moment and epiphany. He was so authentic and unique you couldn’t put him into any generalized pigeon hole. To know him, was to love him. On October 26th 2022, at the age of 78, this incredible and brilliant man painlessly joined his devoted parents in heaven while surrounded by family.
David was a man of honor and self-control. He lived a full, beautiful life, focused on teaching his posterity right from wrong. He taught us a 
great many things, here’s just a few;
- The virtue of a hard day’s work
- The necessity of balancing a check book
- The splendor of a humble life
- The importance of gratitude
- The worthlessness of an empty gun & a dull knife!
- And of course, the need for grace!!
He was an example of determination and preparation, and a hard worker. He graduated from BYU in electronics, and upon graduation he purchased Bell electronics from which he created a wonderful life for his family. Our father gave his life serving us and preparing for every needful thing. David loved with every fiber of his being, and was a MAN’S MAN. He collected guns, knives and antiques of all kinds. We enjoyed going shooting and fishing together. And of course, he taught us all to “fish”, both literally and metaphorically. A better man you could not find!
Our beloved father is survived by his five children; David Roy Pett, Crystal Ann Hovey, Paul Martin Pett, Shawn Matthew Pett, and Jill Ellen Zegarra.
WE LOVE YOU DAD!!!
Till we meet again, love always your 5 children and 24 grandchildren!
5 Condolences for David Martin Pett
Condolences(5)
Vard Williams says
November 2, 2022 at 4:21 pmI wanted to express my condolences. Dave and I ran around a lot and double dated in high school. We had some great times. Unfortunately distance has kept us apart these past years. It is saddening to hear of his passing. He was a good friend.
Jill (Pett) Zegarra says
November 2, 2022 at 7:32 pmThank you so much.
Jill Zegarra says
November 4, 2022 at 4:20 amMy dad was such a great man. I will miss him deeply, I know he is so happy in heaven and watching over us. He was wise and loved without judgment. I will miss calling him up to tell him a new joke I heard and having a big laugh.
Crystal says
July 13, 2023 at 2:17 pmThere was not a question he did not know the answer to. The authenticity of my fathers soul is unmatched. It was not just our loss when he died the world lost a great intelligence . My dad and I bonded through meals and chatting. We double dated as well. My favorite moments were chatting with him. When we would go to a restaurant together I sometimes wondered if we would eventually be asked to leave as we would talk and talk and talk. We mostly shared memories and discussed the ludicrousies of human behavior. My father and I thought alot the same way and we had the same frustrations. His IQ level and mine were higher than our siblings and it seperated us from them. We discussed Poetry and art and politics. He had a fantasticly high level of intelligence that was seemingly endless. I learned so much from him. He was so independant as well…I recall he never asked for help I had to find ways to help him and was fortunate enough to drive by a few times when he needed help with either groceries or fixing something.
My father at times would take me to a fancy restaurant and we would get all dressed up and there was usually always a fireplace. I will tell you the significance of that….
My father repeatedly shared a memory with me over and over about how the affluent man of his community while sharing a fire with him took a twig and lit it with the fire and used it to light his cigar and said under his breath “saved a match” ….That was pivitol for my father as this was a man who could afford way more than a match. But he didnt waste a thing. My father would teach in multiple directions so you could experience the lesson in many ways hence the use of the fireplace when he would bring up the old memory of the affluent man who didnt waste a match.
We both valued making use of everything we could. It manifested in different ways but came from the same flame for example he was a collector of antiques while I was focus on making the best use of space and how to organize things when there is very little space for things. I would build corner shelves and custom shelves and focus on having a place for every little thing while he focused on collecting things that retain their value.
We also both thought 5 steps ahead…We would often discuss our plan b plan c and plan d with each other. He was a man who was prepared for all things and thanks to his precise and calculated lessons he fine tuned my abilities to stretch pennies into dollars and live beneath my means to the point I have lived comfortably and am debt free.
I owe this to my Father. He was an incredible teacher.
I miss his object lessons.
He inspired me.
Encouraged me.
Comforted me.
Protected me.
We were single parents together. It was easy being single with him to hang out with. I enjoyed going to garage sales with him and shooting up the canyon with him but my favorite was definately chatting with him. Learning from him.
He was a brilliant man!
James Leenan says
May 10, 2025 at 12:47 amI just found out that Dave had passed.
I was shocked and saddened to here.
Don’t know if anybody remembers me but
I worked for Dave at Bell Electronics
for seven years from about 1977
to 1984. We were best of friends and
bought a couple of boats together and
spent many days fishing and hunting during
that time. I eventually moved to Reno, NV
after taking another job. I did come back to
Provo to see him a couple of times and we
talked on the phone. My condolences to all
his family, he was a great guy and friend!
James Leenan
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