Clyde Legrand Fairbourn

Clyde LeGrand Fairbourn was born on August 10, 1920 to Myrtle Kemp and Edward Fairbourn. He was the fifth of seven children. Clyde grew up in humble circumstances going through the Great Depression as part of his childhood. He was a man who was familiar with challenges, and during his life, he overcame many.

As a young boy, Clyde was assigned to tend the family sheep herd in the foothills of the south Salt Lake valley with a younger brother to help. While tending the sheep he developed appendicitis and had to ride his horse to his home in Crescent Utah to get aid. Thankfully, miraculously, his life was spared even though the appendix had ruptured. This was the first of many miracles when the hand of the Lord protected him. Who knew that he would have 90 plus years ahead of him!

Clyde served a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the East Central States Mission with headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky. He loved his mission and recognized the opportunity it presented him to get to know the whisperings of the Spirit and realize that God was aware of him individually. In later life, he spoke often of his mission, which was the first time in his life he left the relative safety of Utah.

Shortly after getting home from his mission, Clyde was drafted into the Army, assigned to the front line fighting in the Philippines during World War II. While on the front lines, Clyde had several specific experiences where his life was spared. Ultimately, he was awarded a Bronze Star for heroic service and Purple Heart, having been severely wounded when a mortar shell hit the foxhole he was in.

In the short period between his mission and the war, Clyde's life was forever changed when he sat on the stand in a sacrament meeting, and a most beautiful and popular girl he knew from school sat on the stand beside him. He asked her out and they dated regularly for the few weeks before he entered the military. It was the start of a wonderful life with Elizabeth (Beth) Wight. He always was amazed that such a beautiful and special girl would take interest in him and marry him. He recognized that the Lord guided him in the decision to marry Elizabeth and said it proved to be the best and most important decision of his life. Clyde and Beth had a rich and full life that included raising five children. He was very proud of his posterity that includes 23 grandchildren and 45 great grandchildren.

Throughout his life, Clyde served faithfully in many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including bishop and patriarch. He worked very hard to serve the needs of others. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ was very important to him. Anyone who visited him in his later years will tell you that he always made sure to tell them that the "Lord was in my life."

After retirement, Clyde and Beth worked many years as ordinance workers in the Jordan River Temple and as tour guides on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. They loved serving together.

Clyde will always be remembered as a hard worker. Even in his older years he could work as long and hard as many a younger man. He was faithful, true and obedient to his beliefs. If He promised to do something, he would faithfully do it. His example will always be remembered, and his legacy will live on.

Clyde was preceded in death by his dear wife, Elizabeth, a grandson Craig, his parents, and all six of his siblings. He leaves behind his five children, Dave F. (Julie), Connie (Dave R.), LeGrand (Joann), Paul (Karen) and Marvin (Dana), 22 grandchildren, and 45 great grandchildren. We love and miss you Dad/Grandpa.

A viewing will be held on Sunday, December 22, 2019 from 6 to 8:00 pm at the Anderson and Goff Mortuary (11859 S.700 E., Draper). Funeral services will be held Monday, December 23, 2019, at 11:00 am at the Canyon Corner 7th Ward building (13400 S. 1300 E.), preceded by a viewing from 9:45 am to 10:45 am.