Lorin Nelson Pace

1925 - 2026

Lorin Nelson Pace

1925 ~ 2026

Lorin Nelson Pace, born August 15, 1925, passed away peacefully on the morning of February 24, 2026, at the age of 100. A great and noble soul has returned home.

Lorin was born in Miami, Arizona - the second of six children born to Levi Wilson Pace and Sentella Nelson Pace. Like Nephi, Lorin was born of goodly parents who instilled in him faith in God and confidence in prayer. The Pace family moved from Arizona to Utah in 1930, eventually settling in the family home at 2304 South 800 East in the Forest Dale neighborhood. Lorin had a happy childhood and home life. He enjoyed the outdoors, hiking, camping, Scouting and all their related adventures.

He attended Forest Elementary School, Irving Jr High School, and South High School – graduating in 1942. After a year attending the University of Utah, Lorin enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in December 1943. He served his country until the end of World War II and was released from active duty in November 1945. Certainly, he is part of our country's "Greatest Generation".

Soon after the War, Lorin accepted a mission call to Argentina for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served with great devotion from September 1946 to May 1949. He loved his mission, the Argentine people, and the Lord.

After his mission, Lorin continued his studies at BYU and enjoyed his experiences there. He was always proud of his association with BYU where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, and a Minor in Math.

One evening, while speaking at a fireside, he was blessed to meet Marylynn Haymore. Heaven smiled on that occasion. He caught her eye and eventually her heart. She became the love of his life. Lorin and Marylynn were married in the Salt Lake Temple on July 26, 1950. That decision had great eternal consequences.

Lorin and Marylynn began their married life in a little home at 57 Chicago Street in the Rose Park area of Salt Lake City. In September 1950, Lorin started Law School at the University of Utah. While in school, he supported the family by working three part time jobs: as a gas station attendant, an insurance adjuster, and delivering newspapers. He and Marylynn started their family with the three older boys - Grant, Lee, and Stan.

Lorin graduated from Law School in December 1952. In 1954 he moved the family to Richfield, Utah where he established a law office. In 1955 Lorin passed the Foreign Service exam. Soon thereafter, the Pace family moved to San Pedro Sula, Honduras where Lorin was employed as the Vice Consul in the American Embassy. While there, Lorin was called as the first president of the San Pedro Sula Branch. He rejoiced, over time, as the church grew from that one small branch to the recent dedication of the San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple.

The stay in Honduras, however, was short lived. In March of 1956, Lorin received the call to return to Argentina as Mission President. Heeding the call from the Prophet, he promptly resigned from the Foreign Service and traveled to Salt Lake City where he was set apart by President David O. McKay.

The Pace family arrived in Argentina in August of 1956 and Lorin and Marylynn set out to do the Lord's work. At that time, the church in Argentina was still relatively young. The mission covered all of Argentina. There were no stakes or districts. So, Lorin carried the responsibility of leading the members as well as the missionaries. He was a powerful and innovative leader and served with his whole heart and soul. The church grew significantly during this time. The work prospered, the church was strengthened, and the first missionaries were sent from Argentina to Chile. During the mission, Lorin and Marylynn welcomed three additional children into the family - Mark, Lorraine, and Maurine.

In May of 1960, Lorin and Marylynn, now with six children, returned home to Salt Lake City. They purchased the home at 2386 Olympus Drive, in the Holladay 5th Ward of the Olympus Stake in Holladay. There they planted their roots and lived for the next 42 years, raising their family in righteousness, filling their home with love, and serving the Lord. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was central to their home and family life. They taught their children the importance of education, hard work, missionary service and temple marriage. Their happy family times included gardening, raising chickens, camping at Christmas Meadows, Sunday dinners, Christmas gifts from the heart, broken down cars, and trips to Guaymas, Mexico. They lived after the manner of happiness. Those were days never to be forgotten.

During the initial 10 years on Olympus Drive, the final four children came into the family – Lynn, Deanna, Brad, and Teresa – bringing the count to ten children. Lorin and Marylynn didn't start out wanting to have ten children – they just always wanted to have one more! For that righteous desire, we are most grateful.

One of Lorin's favorite church callings was serving as the Explorer Post Advisor in the Holladay 5th Ward for 17 years. He and the explorers hiked to Kings Peak, canoed the Snake River, traversed the Grand Canyon and established lifelong friendships along the way. No matter how late the group arrived home from a hike on Saturday evening, they were all expected to be at church bright and early on Sunday morning for Priesthood Meeting.
Lorin supported his family as an attorney in Salt Lake City. For most of his legal career he was a sole practitioner. He worked hard and put in long hours. The sign on the door said, "Lorin N Pace – Attorney at Law". His clients were his friends. They were treated with respect, integrity, and received wise legal counsel.

Lorin served in the Utah State Legislature for 26 years from 1964 to 1990. His constituents elected him to the House of Representatives for 11 consecutive terms. He appreciated their trust. Lorin also had the trust of his peers as they elected him Speaker of the House from 1969-1971, and Minority Leader from 1972-74, and 1975-77. His peers frequently selected Lorin as the most effective state legislator. He concluded his legislative service with a term in the State Senate from 1986-1990. Lorin made a difference at the Utah State Capitol. He was a statesman in every good meaning of the word.

Following his retirement, Lorin and Marylynn served three additional missions for the Church: a proselyting mission in Paraguay (1996-1998), a public affairs mission in the Dominican Republic (1999-2001) , and an Inner-City / Hispanic Initiative mission in Salt Lake City (2003-2007).

Upon their return from the Dominican Republic, Lorin and Marylynn purchased a home at 4404 Ashford Drive in the Winderbrook Ward of the Winder Stake in Millcreek. There they established new roots within a new circle of friends. There they enjoyed the sunset years of life among their children and grandchildren, who loved and admired them very much.

Always intellectually inquisitive, Lorin was knowledgeable on many subjects and a voracious reader. He would read a couple of books a week, along with magazines and newspapers. He also loved memorizing and reciting poetry. With his daughter Deanna's help, he established the Poem of the Month Club with a poem and its background story being shared monthly. He assembled his favorite poems and published several poetry collections for his posterity.

Here is a favorite he quoted often:

"I have wept in the night

For the shortness of sight

That to somebody's need made me blind;

But I never have yet

Felt a tinge of regret

For being a little too kind."

Lorin was kind. It was central to his character. In his own way, he had a gift for loving and reaching the one. Additionally, he was witty and had a fun sense of humor. He was a pleasure to be with and a great conversationalist. He was loved and admired by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Lorin was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a faithful Priesthood holder. That was the true measure of the man. His 100 years of mortality were defined by his devotion to Jesus Christ, His gospel, and His church. Lorin lived an extraordinary and exemplary life, faithful and valiant in every way. There was no wavering. Amid life's challenges, he and Marylynn had the faith and resiliency of character to honor the temple covenants they had made to one another and to the Lord. Their legacy of faith continues in the lives of their posterity.

Lorin Nelson Pace was preceded in death by his wife, Marylynn Haymore Pace, who passed away on April 15, 2024.

He was also preceded in death by his parents, Levi Wilson Pace and Sentella Nelson Pace; his siblings, Levi Pace, Jr., Barbara Pace Erickson, Thomas Pace, James Pace, Earl Pace; and a grandson, David Worsham Jr.

He is survived by his half-sister Kathleen Pace Gates (Kenneth Gates), by his 10 children, Grant Pace (Susan Wells), Lee Pace (Carol Hoffman), Stan Pace (Bonnie Butcher), Mark Pace (Anne Marie Langeland), Lorraine Pace Brown (Edward Brown), Maurine Pace Worsham (David Worsham), Lynn Pace (Lisa Oldroyd), Deanna Pace Lambson (Don Lambson), Brad Pace (Barbara Miner) and Teresa Pace Segura (Ezra Segura); 76 grandchildren; 176 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.

For those who would like to offer condolences, a viewing will be held on Friday, March 13, 2026, from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Winderbrook Ward Chapel located at 4366 South 1500 East in Millcreek, Utah. A funeral service will be held at the same location on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 11:00 am, with a viewing held from 9:30-10:45 am prior to the service. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 South Highland Drive.