John Clair Payzant

John Clair Payzant passed away peacefully at the age of 98 in his Washington, Utah home on December 13, 2025, surrounded by his family, whom he loved dearly. He was born to Rueben Ells Payzant and Desta Shepherd on September 15, 1927, in Benjamin, Utah. He was the third of seven children; his siblings are Elaine, Afton, Joyce, Clifton, Evelyn, and Renae. He grew up in Provo, Utah, and eventually moved to Salt Lake City where he attended South High School, graduating early due to World War II. 

He joined the Coast Guard on September 15, 1945, and reported to Alameda, California, for three months of basic training. He was then assigned to the U.S.S. Admiral H.T. Mayo (AP-125) where he worked in the engine room. His most memorable deployment was to Tokyo, Japan, where he witnessed the devastation of the war and helped bring soldiers home to the United States. He was discharged on June 30, 1947.

After returning home, he spent his military savings on his dream car, a 1941 Ford convertible, which he customized to be the ultimate babe magnet. It worked. The cutest girl ended up sitting next to him. Her name was Colleen Wiseman, and she became the love of his life.

He and Colleen married on March 19, 1950, in Elko, Nevada. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple a year later. After eight years of trying to have children, Colleen received a blessing from LDS Apostle LeGrand Richards. Nine months later, their first child was born. Clair always said that becoming a dad was the best thing that ever happened to him. He and Colleen raised five children—Michelle, Colette, Shawn, Jaron, and Josette and have 14 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren.

Clair was a meticulous craftsman and spent his life building, fixing, tinkering, and hiding from Colleen in the garage. Whatever he wanted, he built himself, including a speed boat, family camper, and the beautiful mountain cabin that has become the source of fond memories for generations of family and friends. He also shared his time and talents, helping neighbors with their projects and countless scouts with their merit badges. He was always happy to serve. He also liked to go fast. Snowmobiles, motorcycles, boats, cars, ATVs. Anything.

In the 1950’s he was given the opportunity to design, engineer, and sell communication systems for a new franchise of Executone, a national leader in the field. He became the general manager of the distributorship and eventually purchased the company in 1976. Through his innovation, he became a pioneer and market leader in customer-owned telephone and nurse call systems in the Mountain West. He leveraged his financial success into early retirement so that he could spend time in the mountains, on machines, and with family.

While raising their family in Murray, Utah, Clair and Colleen became part-time snowbirds in southern Utah, and eventually Clair designed and built their dream home there, where they spent their final years together. Colleen preceded him in death on January 8, 2014, and Clair will now be back by her side.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the Green Springs Chapel, 860 N Fairway Drive, Washington City, UT, visitation will be one hour prior. Interment will be in the Washington City Cemetery, under the direction of the McMillan Mortuary 435 688-8880.

Funeral services may be viewed by clicking the livestream below.