Don Wayne Babcock

   Don Wayne Babcock, age 63, of Duchesne, passed away March 4, 2017, after a battle with cancer.  
    He was born June 14, 1953, in Roosevelt, to James Evan and Melvera Cook Babcock.  He married Karen Marie Thomas on October 14, 1978, in Duchesne.  Their marriage was solemnized in the Vernal LDS Temple on October 25, 2014.
    Don was a very hardworker starting out on oilfield drilling rigs after high school.  He worked for Santa Fe Energy for 14 years as a pumper and water truck driver, then over 25 years as a machinist at Uintah Machine in Duchesne.  There he became certified and ran the Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) machine.  Recently he helped start, and was a partner with his children, at Basin Lube and Tire in Duchesne.
    In his younger days, he enjoyed hunting, and later in life enjoyed target shooting, camping (if you could get him to take time off) and fishing.  He was also a skilled leather craftsman and knife maker.  
    He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a secretary in both the Elder’s Quorum and High Priest Group Leadership, and had been the Bear Leader in the Cub Scout program.
    He loved his family, and his pride and joy was his dog, Sundance.
    Don is survived by his wife, Karen; son, Wayne; a daughter Wendy Marie, all of Duchesne; brothers and sisters, Evan (Andrea) Babcock, Ogden; Dorothy (Jesus) Coronado, Chihuaha Mexico; Dell (Vickie) Babcock, Ardmore, OK; Gary (Revon) Babcock, Roosevelt; Hazel Aranas, Roosevelt; Carolyn (Burt) Bird, Altamont; Keith (Brenda) Babcock, Vernal; and numerous nieces and nephews.
    He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Melvera; parents-in-law, Marie and Weston Thomas; nieces and nephews, Shanna, Shane, Jason & Monte Bird; Tracy McKowen.
    Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 8, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the Duchesne 1st and 3rd Ward LDS chapel where viewings will be held on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. and from 10-10:45 a.m. Wednesday.
    Burial will be in the Duchesne City Cemetery under direction of the Hullinger Mortuary.  Condolences may be shared at www.hullingemortuary.com