Richard Henry Pullan

Richard Henry Pullan, nicknamed Dick, was born in Salt Lake City on May 8, 1935, to Gladys Davis and William A Pullan. His three older siblings, Don, Beverly, and LaVaghn welcomed him into their family and loved and spoiled him. He grew up on Downington Avenue in Salt Lake City; part of a large group of mischievous boys who remained close friends throughout their lives. His Dad was a mechanic and instilled a love of cars in him. His Mother was a homemaker who sewed, embroidered, and crocheted. She taught Dick to embroider and he in turn taught his oldest daughter the art of embroidery.

He also loved sports and played softball, basketball, and golf. He loved to tell stories of the games he played; the positions he played and could still remember the names of his teammates. As a Dad, he coached Rick in basketball and baseball and Jodi in softball. He also made a hole in one at Painted Desert Golf Course.

Dick worked various jobs as a teenager and worked at a gas station after high school until his older brother, Don, sponsored him in the electrical union apprenticeship program. He was able to work on the Salt Lake temple, spent a winter in Kemmerer, Wyoming and worked on various projects in Salt Lake. In 1964 he was transferred to Las Vegas where he worked at the Nevada Test Site and worked on many hotels including the MGM after the fire. He also worked on the intake tunnels at Lake Mead. He loved his job and was a proud member of IBEW and received a 70 year pin a few weeks ago.

Dick met Karen Morris her senior year of high school, dated while she attended University of Utah and on May 25, 1956, Dick married the girl he would love and cherish the next 70 years, and they began building a life together. They had five children: Kathey, Penney, Laurie, Rick, and Jodi. He taught his children through his example to serve, work hard, be dependable, to be honest always, to love God and country and especially to love their spouses and children. Dick and Karen have 25 grandchildren and 60 great-grandchildren of whom they are very proud. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Dick diligently served in many callings that he loved. He spent many years on the Stake Athletic committee, was a Young Men’s Counselor, a Ward Finance Clerk, the High Priest Group Leader and oversaw building security. He loved the many years he served at the temple recommend desk at the Las Vegas, Nevada Temple.

Dick was a creator----he loved pulling wires, twisting them together to bring light to dark rooms. He colored with his children and taught them to outline pictures and how to use black crayons to shade. Later in life, he started oil painting and created paintings that hang in the homes of his family and friends. When he could no longer paint, he started coloring pictures with numbers indicating which color should go in each space. His creativity led him to use the colors he wanted rather than the colors stated on the pictures.

Most of all, he created a family with his amazing wife. He loved his family fiercely and was happiest when they were with him.

He was a wonderful husband, father and friend and has left a family who will miss him and his great love.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents, William and Gladys Pullan; siblings, Don and Beverly and his daughter-in-law Michelle Layton Pullan.

He is survived by his wife, Karen; children Kathey Maxfield (Chip), Penney Crowther (Nathan), Laurie Norton (Jeff), Rick (Shan), Jodi Thomson (Jerry); 25 grandchildren and 60 great-grandchildren