Richard Brimley

Biography

Our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Richard “Dick” Brimley passed away at home May 21, 2012, at the age of 88. Richard was born June 8, 1923 to La Vern and Thelma Dahlen Brimley in Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended Whittier, McKinley and Sumner elementary schools, Roosevelt Jr. High and graduated in 1940 from South High.
Dick grew up in the family grocery business and learned the meat cutting trade from his father, becoming a journeyman meat cutter at age 14. He served in the Army Air Corps from 1943-1944 and in the infantry from 1945-1946 in Germany. He was selected to attend meat and dairy training, and then served as a food inspector in Chicago, procuring meat to send to the armed forces. He made many lifelong friends during that time. After returning from the war he met his future wife Carma Vera Mathews in Sunday school at the Wells LDS Ward. They attended the University of Utah together and enjoyed skiing and dancing to the “big bands” at the Rainbow Rendezvous. They were married May 6, 1949.
Dick received his BS in marketing from the U of U in 1950. He took an accounting job for Utah Oil Company, but returned to meat cutting to better support his family. Dick and Carma bought their first home in Rose Park and then moved to Bountiful in 1959. Dick worked for 16 years at Utah Wholesale Grocery as advertising manager for IGA Stores. He pioneered advertising in Salt Lake City and received awards for his innovative work. Dick produced all of IGA’s advertisements including the TV ads that appeared on the IGA Four-Star News.
He then was hired as marketing director for Valley Fair Mall where he worked 10 years overseeing the advertising, and planning many large special events. He was a member of the West Valley Chamber of Commerce and received several awards including Outstanding Community Service and Businessman of the Month. For many years he narrated the West Valley Santa Claus parade each December. After retiring in 1988, Dick continued as mall landscape supervisor until 1997.
While his family was young he also supplemented his income by working as a meat cutter for Griffith’s market. He was an energetic, hardworking man with a positive attitude, who made friends wherever he went. He was an Elder in the LDS Church and served as a Sunday school teacher, activity director, faithful home teacher and unofficial meat procurer and slicer for countless ward dinners. He loved the gospel and read the scriptures daily.
Dick was a patient, fun, loving father to his 7 children, and he had great affection for their spouses. Some of his happiest moments were spent with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He cherished his sweet wife, and they enjoyed traveling together and attending the Utah Symphony. In addition to his love for music, he enjoyed remodeling his home and gardening, and had an appreciation for cars, nature, birds, sunsets, thunderstorms, flowers.
A big thank you to Alpha Hospice for their care and concern of our father.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Carma, and children: Rich (Marla), Florida; Rhonda (Steve) Greenwood, North Salt Lake; Todd (Kim), North Salt Lake; Peggy (Jerry) Wilson, Woods Cross; Jeffrey, Bountiful; and Sandra (Steve) Graves, Pocatello; 17 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter Edith Joy, his father and mother, and sister, Marjorie Holding.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, May 25, 2012 at the Bountiful 31st Ward Chapel, 585 East Center Street. A viewing will be held 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, May 24 at Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main, and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment is at Bountiful City Cemetery.
We love you very much, dad, and will miss you.

Funeral Service

Friday May 25, 2012, 11:00 at Bountiful 31st Ward
Click for Map and Directions

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 25, 2012 at the Bountiful 31st Ward Chapel, 585 East Center Street. Friends and family may call Thursday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main and Friday 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment- Bountiful City Cemetery.