Mac Rey Call

Mac Rey Call was born on December 8, 1929 to Charles Helaman and Hannah Skousen Call in Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico.  He was the fourth of thirteen children. He is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, one sister, and a son, Kenneth Rey Call.  He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Carol Elizabeth Clark Call.  He is also survived by two sons, Douglas Call (Suellen) of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, and Gregory Call (Lynne) of Kingman, Arizona and three daughters, Linda Reese (Jim) of Roswell, New Mexico; Lisa Paulsen (Noal) of Saratoga Springs, Utah and Debra Call of Farmington, Utah. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 39 great grandchildren.                                                                                     

Mac learned to work hard growing up on a farm in Mexico. He often said they were poor, but never knew it because they always had something to eat and clothes to wear. Mac loved to garden and care for his yards wherever he lived. He was happiest when he was outdoors working in his garden or taking care of his fruit and nut trees.  Mac loved to hunt when he was younger and took many trips to Mexico with his sons, sons-in-law, and friends.                                                                                                                           

He married his high school sweetheart, Carol Elizabeth Clark, for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple on June 3, 1949. He attended Brigham Young University and graduated in 1952 with a degree in Agronomy. Upon graduation, he moved his family to Molokai, Hawaii where he worked as a supervisor for Libby Pineapple Company. In 1955, he moved his family to El Paso, Texas where he worked as a foreman for the American Smelting and Refining Company for nearly 40 years. Along with Carol, he raised his family in their small home with a large yard and cow pasture in the “upper valley” area of El Paso where he lived until he retired.  

Mac always loved young people and spent most of his life serving them. He was a scoutmaster for many years, and in 1964 he arranged for an unprecedented trip from El Paso, Texas to the National Jamboree in Valley Forge, and the New York World’s Fair. He also took his scouts on many 50 mile hikes in the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico. His relationship with these young men lasted all his life. He had a beautiful tenor voice and enjoyed singing solo wherever he was, and in the church choir wherever he lived. Mac held many Ward and Stake callings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout his lifetime. He served as a Bishop of the El Paso, Texas Fifth Ward for many years. Then after retirement, he and his wife Carol moved to Utah in 1992 and served a Family History Mission at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.  Afterwards, they went on missions to Bogota, Colombia in 1993 and Lima, Peru in 1994.  From 1994 to 1997, Mac served as President of the Lima, Peru South Mission and from 2000 to 2002 as the first President of the Caracas, Venezuela Temple. Mac and Carol moved to Roswell, New Mexico in 2004 where they lived until moving to Farmington, Utah in 2018. 

After a second hip surgery, Mac passed away at the Fairfield Rehabilitation Center in Layton, Utah.  Everyone loved Mac wherever he was. His lively sense of humor, always full of joking, teasing, and love for life endeared him to those who knew him and cared for him until the very end. His example of courage and strength is his legacy to all, and especially to his posterity for generations to come.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 11:00 am at the LDS Chapel, 496 River Way, Lehi, UT.  Family and friends may call Friday evening from 6-8 pm at Russon Mortuary, 1941 N. Main St., Farmington and Saturday morning from 10:00 – 10:30 am at the church prior to services.  Interment-Lehi City Cemetery.