David E. Salisbury

1927 ~ 2021

Viewing:

June 4, 2021
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Larkin Sunset Lawn 2350 East 1300 South Salt Lake City
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  • Service:

    June 5, 2021
    11:00 AM
    1320 S. Wasatch Dr., Salt Lake City, Utah
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  • Listen to Previously Recorded Service

    David E. Salisbury - husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, attorney - passed away surrounded by family on May 17, 2021. He lived a full life to the end with dignity, curiosity, and love.

    David was born on August 27, 1927 in Springville, Utah, the second of four children born to Claude Salisbury and Sarah Elizabeth Houtz. Of his siblings, he was preceded in death by his older brother Joe, and his younger sister Nancy - and he is survived by his younger brother Paul. As a youth he enjoyed fishing in Hobble Creek, playing high school football, lighting off fireworks, and riding his horse Tony. In junior high school, David met and fell in love with his sweetheart, Carol Clyde. He won over her parents and dated Carol throughout junior high and high school.

    David joined the Navy at age 18 and spent the next year training in Florida and Illinois. At the end of World War II, he matriculated at the University of Utah and received a degree in accounting. In 1949 he and Carol were married, and then moved to Palo Alto, CA where he graduated from Stanford Law School in 1952. During his time at Stanford he was the managing editor of the Stanford Law Review.

    David and Carol decided to return to Utah so David could begin his law career at the firm of Van Cott, Bagley, Cornwall and McCarthy, where he would go on to spend more than 60 years working on all matters of tax, estate and business law. For many years he served as president of the firm. David was well respected in both the community and among his peers in the legal profession. He combined a knowledge of the law with a keen ability to work personably and compassionately with his clients.

    David and Carol had four children - Susan, Carol Ann (C.A.), Sally, and David. Spending time with his family was where David found true joy and happiness in his life. Some of that joy was found in trips to Lake Powell and Lake Tahoe where the family’s boat got a lot of use. Over the years, David enjoyed family trips to many other fun places where cherished memories were created. He had an unsurpassed curiosity and thirst for adventure. On more than one occasion this was manifested by following fire trucks for miles on the road just to see where the action was happening. Over the years he also enjoyed reading, hiking, golf, skiing, tennis, and spotting wildlife while driving up Utah canyons.

    David was civic-minded and served for many years on the board and as Chairman of Intermountain Health Care (IHC), where he was involved in the early years of the formation of what was to become one of the state’s largest non-profit organizations. He also served on the boards of the Utah Symphony, Pioneer Memorial Theater, Kearns-Tribune Corporation, SADS Foundation, University of Utah National Advisory Council, and the Utah Arthritis Foundation. David was loved and admired widely in all of his associations - whether those were personal, professional, or ecclesiastic.

    Upon the passing of Carol in 2002, David married Lois Woodland in 2005. They have enjoyed many wonderful years together traveling, serving in the Church, and spending time with friends and family - including with Lois’ daughters Ann and Paula and their families.

    A life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, David was a man of faith and devoted much of his time to serving in a number of capacities including bishop, Temple Square missionary, Church Employment Center missionary, director of the Washington DC Visitor’s Center, and working in the Salt Lake Temple.

    David also was an artist. He would write poetry to express his feelings about those whom he loved - both family and friends. He also took up oil and watercolor painting and loved expressing himself on a canvas.

    Services will be held Saturday, June 5th at 11 a.m. in the Monument Park Stake Center, 1320 Wasatch Drive in Salt Lake City. Friends may also call Friday, June 4th in the evening from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East 1300 South. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to donate to the Springville Art Museum (www.smofa.org).


    Guestbook/Condolences

    What an outstanding person. My Dad always considered him one of his closest friends. I always enjoyed my interactions with him as he always expressed true interest in me and my family. I know he is having a great reunion with my Dad and many other great friends. RIP until we reunite again. Brad Colton


    - Bradley Hugh Colton