Dean Emery Wilcox

Dean Emery Wilcox, age 91, of Orem, Utah, passed away at his home, relaxing in his recliner. After a wonderfully pleasant Sunday dinner and visit with friends, and a bowl of homemade ice cream, he quietly left us the evening of December 1, 2024, with his dear wife of 65 years, Barbara, and their son Tom, at his side. Born in Clearfield, Utah to Emery H Wilcox and Viola Pearl Walker Wilcox on April 21, 1933, Dean was the youngest of 6 siblings (Larry, Melvin, Eloise, Cleone, and Hal), all of whom preceded him in death. There must have been a grand reunion.

Dean’s parents raised him and his 3 brothers and two sisters in Clearfield, Utah. Dean was very tall, and he loved to play baseball and basketball, enjoyed swimming the canal, running freely around the town and fields, picking fruit, milking the cow every night, making ice cream from that cow’s milk, and using freshly fallen snow to freeze the ice cream during the winter. He attended the local schools in Clearfield and graduated from Davis High School in 1951. Due to the ongoing Korean War, the government had a strict quota of one missionary per ward per year; Dean was blessed to be the only missionary called to serve from his ward in 1953. He reported to the Hawaiian Mission in November 1953 and served until November 1955.

Dean was a disciple of Jesus Christ and a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many capacities, including as a young missionary, a faithful Home Teacher/Minister, stake Seventy, High Priest Group Leader, Gospel Doctrine Teacher, faithful husband and father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was an avid student of the Scriptures. Dean loved his country and what it stands for and was a firm believer that its constitution was divinely created. A true patriot, Dean served in the United States Army at Fort Ord, California, and Bamburg, Germany during the 50’s. He learned to cook in the Army, a skill he later shared at home with his family and friends. His favorite assignment was the battalion mail clerk, a position for which he volunteered and which he thoroughly enjoyed.

While in Germany, Dean met Barbara Wolsey, a Provo girl touring Europe with friends. He often said the only good thing to come from his army experience was Barbara. After corresponding and then dating after he returned to Utah, Dean and Barbara married on June 12, 1959, in the Salt Lake Temple. After their marriage, Dean continued his higher education and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Business. 

Dean and Barbara are the parents of five children: Shannon (Rusty) Johnson, Shelley (Greg) Mueller, Jeff (Lori – decd.), Anne (David) Kowallis, and Tom. Dean is survived by eleven grandchildren and eight (soon to be nine) great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Monday, December 9, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. in the Cherry Hill 1st Ward chapel located at 400 East 1700 South, Orem, Utah. A viewing for friends and family will be held just prior to the service, from 9:30 to 11:00 at the church. Burial will be at the Provo City Cemetery with military rites provided by the Utah National Guard Honor Team.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.

For those unable to attend in person, you may view the services HERE