Owen Karl Speirs

On August 17, 2024, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, Owen Karl Speirs, quickly departed this Earth to join family members on the other side. One of his greatest desires was to be mentally strong and physically capable throughout his life. We are grateful he was able to depart life on his own terms. Owen was born March 2, 1935, to Meda Maud Carpenter Speirs and Kenneth Speirs in Vernal, Utah. He was their 4th son and 6th child, preceded by sisters Vonda and Naon as well as brothers Harold, George and Glen. He was followed by his younger sister Marcele. Owen grew up on ranches in Colorado, Montana, and Utah but also lived in Salt Lake City during his teenage years. He graduated from Granite High School in 1954 and actively participated in ROTC. In his senior year, the Granite High team represented Utah in the Civil Air Patrol national competition in New York City. He was then selected to be part of an even smaller group that trained for six weeks on Long Island before competing in the international competition held in Minneapolis. He was proud to be chosen to be the one to carry the American flag for the honor guard and to be part of the team that won the international competition. After graduation, he was working in Wisdom, Montana, on a ranch owned by Clarence and Viona Taylor, when he was swept away by the rancher's daughter and found his eternal companion, Claire Taylor. They were married October 5, 1955, in the Salt Lake City Temple. The next October, they welcomed their first daughter, Karlene, to the family. Over the years, she was followed by two sisters, Joyette and DeAnn, as well as three brothers, Scott, Clint, and finally Ryan. During this period, they moved around a lot and lived in Montana, Salt Lake City, and Vernal before purchasing a small cattle ranch in Vernal on 5th West next to Ashley Creek. Owen's passions were skiing, hunting, camping, reading, singing, playing the card game Rook (everyone in the family knows that "if you've got the horses, run with 'em!"), operating heavy equipment, working hard, ranching, gathering together as a family, and serving in the community and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In addition to ranching and pursuing his passions, he taught himself to operate heavy equipment working on the Steinaker Dam and worked as a high scaler to help build the Flaming Gorge Dam. He then worked for the Utah Department of Transportation and was the foreman for many years. He spent many sleepless nights plowing snowy roads in the valley and on the mountain to keep others safe. Owen always dreamed of returning to Montana, and in 1981 he and Claire realized that dream by purchasing a large cattle ranch near Melrose. With the help of the three boys who were still at home, they worked that ranch for the next twenty years. In 2001, they went on the first of their four 18-month missions for The Church, serving in the Nauvoo mission. While there, Owen was able to use the many skills he had developed over the years to help prepare the grounds for the restoration of the Nauvoo temple as well as roads, parking lots, and other structures for the many Nauvoo visitor sites. He also discovered previously untapped talents for acting, singing, and dancing. He delighted audiences with his acting skills in vignettes he performed with his wife as well as his oratory skills in his on-stage rendition of numerous poems, including the family favorite, "Jake the Rancher". He also served as a wonderful guide for tours of everything from the bakery to the brickyard to the blacksmith shop. Claire and Owen served their second mission at Adam Ondi Omen, where Owen was called to serve as the Director for the last year of their mission. They then served two additional missions in Nauvoo, completing their final one in 2015. Between missions, they continued to run their ranch in Montana. In 2010, they sold their beautiful ranch and returned to Vernal to be closer to family. One of Owen's favorite pastimes once he returned to Vernal was serving as an ordinance worker and a patron in the temple. He and Claire attended the temple together frequently and were privileged to share a final session together the Thursday before he passed away. He is survived by his wife Claire, daughters Karlene (Brad) Haslem and Joyette (Gary Baker), sons Scott (David Harpin), Clint (Mindy), and Ryan (Lesli), 19 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and his sister Marcele (Don) Huffaker. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter DeAnn Morgan, grandson Blake Huber, sisters Vonda Swain and Naon Cunliffe, and brothers Glen, George, and Harold. We are comforted to know that he is reunited with them and with friends. Funeral Services for Owen will be held Saturday, August 24, at 2:00 p.m. at the Maeser 7th Ward Chapel (2745 West 1000 North). Viewings for family and friends will be held Friday, August 23 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Phillips Ashley Valley Funeral Home (410 North 800 West), Saturday from 12:45-1:45 p.m. at the church. Interment will be in Vernal Memorial Park, (1700 South Vernal Avenue).