Mike Clyde Pyper

Mark Clyde Pyper, 81 of American Fork, Utah passed away on December 27, 2024 in the arms of his sweetheart after a 2 year battle with metastatic melanoma. Mark was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 2, 1943. He was the second born child to Clyde and Marjorie Jane Casper Pyper. His older sister Jane passed away on the day she was born August 14,1941. Mark has one Brother, Jim Pyper. Mark lived his early years in Midway and then on the family farm in Daniels, Utah. Mark worked closely with his family learning how to cook, can fruit and meat for storage, and he even learned to quilt from his Mother and Grandmother. In 1957 his family moved to Pleasant Grove, Utah. His parents purchased the Wasatch Café where his mom cooked and made delicious pies and Mark cut meat, cooked and helped around the Café. As a young man, Mark attended Jr High and High school in Pleasant Grove, where he met the love of his life Shirley Boren. They dated for 4 years and were married in the Salt Lake Temple on July 19, 1963. Mark and Shirley loved everything outdoors. They were at Strawberry Reservoir for the opening of fishing season every year. One of Marks hobbies was tying flies in all different colors with beautiful feathers and different colored shiny string. He caught some great fish on those flies and could always be counted on for a good fish story. He was an expert marksman, competing in trap shooting competitions across the state. Hunting was also a family tradition. Deer Camp at Mill B Flat or Current Creek is where the magic happened. We had some epic hunts as a family, and Mark's love of hunting and fishing was passed on to his children and grandchildren. In the fall you could find the whole family in the meat cutting room in the garage cutting up deer and elk, grinding hamburger, making cube steaks, and cutting roasts. The little kids wrapped the meat and drew animal pictures on the packages. Mark also loved to sing. He was a member of the S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. and Utah Valley Airs Barbershop group, singing and competing alongside his dad, Clyde. He was a stone mason and built many beautiful rock fireplaces and hearths around Utah. He worked for Geneva Steel for 25 years and retired in 1985. After he retired he was a Jack of all trades, but especially loved driving bus for the Alpine School district special needs children. Mark is survived by his wife Shirley and their children, Kristy Lee (Mike) Blickenstaff, Kami Sue (West) Taylor, Shad Mark Pyper, 10 Grandchildren and 19 Great-grandchildren, and his brother Jim (Kelly) Pyper. A celebration of life will be held at the 18th ward Latter day Saint Church building at 381 South 300 East in American Fork, Utah at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 4, 2024. There will be a viewing from 9:45 to 10:45 am prior to the celebration.