John Clayton beaslin

   Our father and grandfather, John Clayton Beaslin, age 87, of Vernal, passed away on May 10, 2015 at The Villa in Roosevelt, Utah, three weeks shy of his 88th birthday.        He was born on June 1, 1927 in Dragon, Utah, to John Lawrence and Florence Emily Hays Beaslin.  
    He spent his early childhood in Fruita and Grand Junction, Colorado and then moved to Salt Lake City, Utah with his family in 1940.  He joined the Navy a week before his 18th birthday and his graduation from Granite High School in May of 1945.  He spent two years in the Navy during World War II and in Korea, and several years in the reserves.  
    He graduated from the University of Utah Law School and received his Law Degree in 1955.  He opened a law practice in Salt Lake City with Henry Nygaard and Clayton Simmons.  He met his wife, Ethel Mae “Sallie” Congdon, at the Boston Building, where they both worked, and they were married in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 13, 1960 by Judge Crockett.  Shortly after they were married they moved to Vernal and lived in and operated the Antlers Motel for several years.  He took over Clayton Simmons law practice and practiced law out of the motel. He was Magister of Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity and President of the Law School during his time at the University.  He was a Grand Jury Investigator for the State of Utah, Deputy Attorney General for the District Attorney, a part of the Attorney General’s Office, President of the Utah State Bar in 1978-1979, and a Vernal City Prosecutor.  He also helped numerous people with their legal issues over the years in his private practice, and was a Uintah County Public Defender for many years.  He finally closed his office in 2014 after 59 years of practicing the law.  
    He has been involved with numerous organizations over the years in the Uintah Basin and across the State of Utah. He was a member of Ashley Lodge #20 F&AM, and their secretary for 26 years, and also a member of Argenta Lodge #3 F&AM, President and Secretary of The Uintah Basin Shrine Club, Worthy Patron of Duveromy Chapter #17 Order of Eastern Star, Past Worthy Grand Patron of the Order of Eastern Star for Utah, a member of Scottish Rite, York Rite, Red Cross of Constantine, Royal Order of Jesters, and Royal Order of Scotland, Past President of the Vernal Rotary Club, founding member of the Vernal Elks Club and a Trustee for five years, Past President of the Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce, member of the Chamber Foundation and Economic Committee, Past President and founding member of Dinosaurland Advertising, and one of the original members of the Dinosaurland Travel Board, Past President of Knife and Fork Club, and Past President of Uintah Basin Bar Association.  He was a founding member of the Dinaland Country Club and was instrumental in getting the bowling alley started.  He was on the Board of Directors for Ashley Valley Medical Center and Zions First National Bank.  He served on the Utah State Centennial Committee and on the Olympic Committee and was legal counsel for the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo for many years.  He was involved in many other organizations too numerous to mention.  
    He has received many awards over the years, including Outstanding Public Service Award, Total Citizen Award and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce, Utah State Total Citizen Award twice, and the Hiram Award.  He was well loved and respected throughout Utah and across the country.  He gave generously of his time and money to anyone who needed either.  He loved watching sports on television and driving around the community and observing all the new construction. He will be greatly missed.  
    He leaves behind his children, Stacy (Mike) Crouch, of Vernal, Stewart Beaslin of Vernal, Robert (Tatia) Beaslin of Orem, and Christy Durrant of Vernal, eight grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.  
    He is preceded in death by his wife, parents, and all three of his brothers, older brothers, twins Wilford Lawrence Beaslin and Arthur Lynn Beaslin, and younger brother Tommy Edward Beaslin, and a half sister, Mercedes Helen Beaslin Smith.  
    A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Vernal Utah Stake Center, 850 West 100 North, Vernal, Utah.   Military honors will be provided by the Vernal American Legion Post #11 and the Utah National Guard.  Masonic and Eastern Star services will be performed at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 1275 East Fairfax Rd, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103.