John Despain

John Elden Despain

Born November 15, 1942 to John Arthur Despain and Mary Elizabeth Swett, in Green River, Wyoming. He was the 6^th child and the only boy.  At the time of his birth, they lived on Henry’s Fork, Sweetwater County, Wyoming. When John was only 9 months old his father died and his mother moved the family to Vernal, Uintah County, Utah.

He started school in Vernal, Utah and after his mother married Sylvan Arrowsmith they moved to Greendale, Utah. The kids were boarded out during the winter with relatives and went to school.

Tenth grade he went to school in Roosevelt, Utah and 11^th and 12^th grade he went to school in Manila, Utah, and lived with the Levi and Beatrice Reed family. That’s where he met Gail and they were married November 22, 1963, in Manila.

They had two children, Randall  and Starla.

He worked construction for many years and his family would go with him in the summer when the kids weren’t in school. He then bought a log truck and hauled logs to mills until he retired. He bought a log truck and hauled logs to mills

John loved being busy. He was always looking for something to take apart so he could see how it worked and most of the time he could get them put back together in working order.

He loved his family more than anything in the world. He was so happy to get his first granddaughter, Tahnee, and then his first grandson, Hadin.  Later he got his great granddaughter, Jaysha, which made his family complete

He is survived by his wife, Gail, of Manila, daughter Starla Williams, of Reliance, Wyoming, granddaughter Tahnee Williams, of Rock Springs, Wyoming, grandson, Hadin Williams, of Reliance, Wyoming and great granddaughter, Jaysha Williams of Rock Springs Wyoming, three sisters: Velva Merrell of Payson, Utah, Vernetta Bindl of Manila, Utah, and Opal Davis of Fairfield, Idaho.

He was preceded in death by his son Randall, father- John Despain, mother- Mary Arrowsmith, stepfather Sylvan Arrowsmith, two sisters- Velma Soper and Verla Robbins, In-laws, Orvel and Relva Potter.