George Marion Calder

George Marion Calder, age 90, of Vernal, Utah passed away peacefully on May 5, 2019 at his home with his daughters by his side. George was born June 30, 1928 in Tonopah, Nevada to Erma Hislop Calder and Edgar Garrett Calder. He was the oldest of 2 sons, and 1 stillborn daughter. George married his sweetheart, Wanda Anderson, on September 3, 1949 in Vernal, Utah. Together they built their life next door to his parents home, and raised 4 beautiful daughters in the 3 bed, 1 bath home which George built with his own hands. With 5 females in the house, he developed a lot of patience over the years and sharpened his amazing sense of humor that he held onto till the end. After running a local garage in downtown Vernal, George and Wanda started Vernal Motor Marine in a beautiful shop behind their home in 1976. George was known throughout the Basin as the one and only to entrust with your boat. That reputation spread among avid boaters and he soon had people traveling thousands of miles to his Mercury boat shop for his expertise. He was actively working on boats until 2012, and was still selling boat parts until his death. Along with being a boat enthusiast, he was also a charter membe...[more]

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f the Uintah County Search Rescue, The Vernal Boat Club, and Vernal Jaycees. George may not have held an engineering degree, but he had the mind capable of it. He built and created many items through the years; from little gadgets to dig weeds easily on flat ground to trailers with amazing engineering that make life easier and more fun. If there was an item that didnt work the way he thought it should, he would cut it apart and rebuild it to work correctly. When George wasnt working on boats throughout the winter, he would often be found with his family on Grizzly Ridge snow skiing. Anyone who saw him on skis would testify that he was one of the most graceful skiers on the hill. He was a member of the National Ski Patrol and served as a patrolman to the local ski resort as well as in Steamboat and the Wasatch Front. He instilled a great love and respect of the outdoors in his entire family. Whether it was gardening, hunting, fishing, or 4 wheeler riding, he loved to do all of these things with his girls and their families. He was filled with infectious joy when he was surrounded by his grandchildren. As they grew, his great and great-great grand children were lucky enough to get to spend time with him as well, often listening to amazing stories of his hunting trips and adventures from years gone by. George is survived by his daughters: Vickie (Randy) Searle, Cherilyn C. Souders, Kathleen (John) Richardson; son-in-law Randy Pummell; grandchildren: Brandy Lyn (Rich) Clegg, Kimberlee (Alex) Reay and family, Camille (Andee) Petty and family, Maria Johnson, Jason (Camille) Searle and family, Cherissa Lyn Collett and son, Amy Lynne (Dave) Stratz and family, Lacy Lee (Derrick) Lange and family, Brittany (Ben) Searle, Courtney (Tim) Accuttoroop; brother Kenneth E. (Corene) Calder. He is preceded in death by his parents: Edgar Garrett and Erma Hislop Calder; wife Wanda Anderson Calder; daughter Tamara Lyn Pummell, grandsons: Woodey B. Searle II, Brian Alan Saiz; son-in-law John Richardson. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 10, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at the Maeser Stake Center (2745 West 1000 North in Vernal, Utah). A viewing for family and friends will be held Thursday evening from 6-8PM at the Phillips Ashley Valley Funeral Home and Friday 11:30-12:45PM at the Church. Interment will be in the Vernal Memorial Park. Online condolences may be shared at www.AshleyValleyFuneralHome.com