Frank Boyer Salisbury

Frank Boyer Salisbury
August 3, 1926 - December 26, 2015
Frank was born in Provo, Utah, on Aug. 3, 1926, to Frank Maine Salisbury and Catherine Boyer, and died on 26 December 2015 in Logan, Utah, of natural causes. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die. Frank put forth all his energy in doing great works as he spent his time on Earth.
He grew up wanting to be a scientist, which started when his father taught him about geology. Scouting continued his interest in identifying plants that grew into a life of learning where he graduated from South High in Salt Lake City, served in the Army at the end of World War II and then served an LDS mission to Switzerland. He learned to speak fluent German on his mission. On return he obtained a B.S. and a master's degree from the University of Utah and then obtained a doctorate in plant physiology at California Institute of Technology in 1955. He taught briefly at Pomona College in California and then became a professor at Colorado State University from 1955-66. Frank then became head of the Department of Plant Science at Utah State University. He retired from this department in 1991. He served two sabbaticals to Tubingen, Germany, and Innsbruck, Austria, in 1962 and Austria and Jerusalem in 1984. He taught university-level classes in German. He took his family with him, tremendously broadening their view of the world.
He was a lifelong photographer working part-time in a photo shop during college and took many weddings. He became proficient in the darkroom and ran a part-time photo studio out of his basement with darkroom skills taught to his children. Many are the families, couples and landscapes that were the subject of his photography skills.
He married Lois Marilyn Olson in September 1949 and raised a family of five boys and two girls. He was later divorced and married Mary Thorpe in 1991. She passed away in 2011. Frank met Helene Hancock Coats while he lived at Pioneer Valley Lodge and felt God had his hand in bringing them together. They married on his birthday, Aug. 3, 2012. Three and a half years has been too short for all the happiness they had together.
His accomplishments are legion. He was an avid author writing 23 books and innumerable papers. He also wrote religious books published by Deseret Book twice and several books after retirement pointing out the problems with the molecular basis of evolution and genetic diversity accounting for the world we live in. He visited most countries on Earth, often as a featured scientific speaker with an interest in growing plants in space or on other planets. He was an experimenter who grew wheat on the Russian space station MIR, and his work is continued at USU to this day.
He is a faithful Latter-day Saint high priest, serving two missions to Switzerland and Columbus, Ohio. He served in bishoprics, high councils, as a Sunday School and Institute teacher, and as a speaker for BYU education week. He was one of the intellects in the church with an interest in "science and religion." He never once expressed any doubt as to the gospel plan. For him revelation always trumped science. We hope now his reunion with those who went before is joyous and the not-yet-revealed answers to questions he had here on Earth are now being answered.
Frank is survived by his loving wife Helene, children Clark (Sharon), Steven (Sharon), both of North Logan, Utah; Michael (Tami) Kaysville, Utah, Cynthia, North Logan, Utah; Rebecca (Rick) Idaho Falls, ID; and Blake (Laura), Fishers, Indiana; 27 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Phillip, granddaughters Kathleen and Michelle, wife Mary.
Viewing will be at Allen Mortuary of North Logan on Sunday, Jan. 3, 5 to 7 p.m., 420 E. 1800 North. Funeral services will be held Monday, Jan. 4, at noon, Logan 43rd Ward, 1255 N. 600 East, Logan. Viewing preceding services from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in North Logan Memorial Park & Cemetery. Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.allenmortuaries.net.