John (Jack) Lester Child

John (Jack) Lester Child passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on November 23, 2024. Jack was born to Lester Arthur and Dora May McDonald on June 7, 1930 in Roy, Utah.

Jack was raised on a farm in Roy during the Great Depression, greatly shaping his attitudes and outlook on life. After graduating from Weber High School in 1948, he moved with his parents to Susanville, California, to work in his older sister’s family’s grocery business. Jack and his family returned to Ogden, where he frequented the Egyptian Theater and met a ticket booth worker named Mollie Wray Harbison. They fell in love and married on January 14, 1950, in Evanston, Wyoming, and later solemnized their vows in the Logan Temple in December 1964.

After Mollie and Jack married, they moved to Carlin, Nevada, where he worked three jobs to support his young family. He worked for the Union Pacific Railroad, cut meat as a butcher, and owned and drove a bread truck all at the same time. While living in Carlin, Jack and Mollie welcomed their first child, Bradley Jack, to the family. Following their time in Carlin, Jack moved his family, along with his parents, to Kemmerer, Wyoming to own and operate the Lazy U motel for ten fun-filled years. There, he spent his free time fishing and hunting with his father. While in Kemmerer, Jack and Mollie completed their family with their next two children, Curtis Lester and Traci.

From Kemmerer, Mollie and Jack moved to five acres in Riverdale, Utah, raising Charolais cows, wooly sheep, guinea hens, and other farm animals. He and Mollie always had the best garden and the most beautiful yard on South Weber Drive. Jack raised his family and spent his entire career in Riverdale. Soon after moving to Riverdale, Jack started working in Smith’s Food King, store number two. He worked in several other Smith’s grocery stores cutting meat and eventually moved into management.

After working for Smith’s for many years, Jack retired, spending most of his time in his yard and garden. During retirement, he and Mollie enjoyed spending the winters in Yuma, Arizona and later, Beaver Dam, Arizona. They travelled all over the United States and visited Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.

Jack was a voracious reader and loved reading anything about the American west. He enjoyed watching cowboy movies, boxing, and BYU football games. For many years, he spent every morning with the “Board of Directors.” He loved riding his ride-on lawnmower and drove it until very recent days. Jack was a member of the LDS church, and in later years enjoyed watching “Music and the Spoken Word” on Sundays.

Jack is survived by his son, Curt (Julie) Child; daughter, Traci Kelson; seven grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mollie; son, Brad (Liz) Child; his parents; and three sisters, Kathryn, Bernyce, and Dawna.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 29, 2024 at 11:00 am at Myers Mortuary, 5865 S. 1900 W., Roy, Utah. Friends may gather with the family between 10:00 to 10:45 am prior to the services at Myers Mortuary. The service will be livestreamed at the following link below and a recording will be available once the service has concluded.

Interment, Hooper City Cemetery