David O. Staples

David O. Staples

1930 ~ 2021

David O. Staples passed away peacefully at home early on the morning of December 3, 2021 in American Fork, Utah at the age of 91. He was born September 15, 1930 in Kanosh, Utah to Owen Crane Staples and Melba Lucille Whitaker Staples. He was the seventh child in a family of eleven and lived a full life during which he blessed many family members, friends and the community. David also served his country as a veteran of the Korean war where he served as a heavy equipment mechanic based in Germany and France. 

David married his beloved sweetheart, Janet Swallow, whom he met in the Manti Temple and married a short time later in the Salt Lake City temple on June 1st, 1956. Together they raised six children and opened their home to many others including a daughter from Samoa (Iulia Tofaeono) and a Navajo son from Arizona (Sheldon Boyd). David and Janet were always generous and looking for ways to serve those around them. 

David loved to farm and raise all manner of fruits, vegetables and other crops and was very talented in this regard, often raising far more than he could use and sharing it with family, friends, neighbors and ward members. 

He may have farmed as a career if it wasn’t for an impression, he had one day to return to school and so, with 5 children in tow he returned to Brigham Young University where he ultimately received a Master’s Degree in education. Upon graduation the church offered him the adventure of a lifetime: a job teaching in a faraway island: American Samoa! David and Janet took their small family to the island to teach and live for three years and returned with their sixth child, creating foundational life memories for all. 

David loved the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served his first mission at the age of 20 in the Central Atlantic States Mission, spending most of his time in North Carolina. Later in life he was called to serve as a High Priest Group Leader, Bishop, High Councilor, Temple worker and countless other callings. He served with his wife as senior missionaries twice, once in Provo Utah South mission as well as the New York North mission. David was an active member and missionary throughout his life and loved conversing about the gospel and sharing his faith and testimony with everyone he met. 

David is survived by his six children: Marne’ Staples, Dwight (Denise) Staples, Susan (Scott) Gingrich, Gary (Julie) Staples, Jerilyn (Mike) Horan, and Bill (Shelly) Staples. He loved and was proud of his 23 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 10, 2021 at 1:00 PM at his church building: 4355 West Cedar Hills Drive, Cedar Hills, UT  84062. Viewing services begin at 11:30 AM for all those who would like to pay their final respects.  

For those interested in viewing the funeral services online, here is the link:  

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5bWbgSp_jM9xBihDZ9dVug