Blaine Prince Prisbrey

GUNNlSON—The light has dimmed.from the eyes of our dearest husband, father,grandfather, brother, and friend. A noble Spirit, he rejoined loved ones beyond the veil on Monday, August 8, 2011, due to the ravages of lung cancer. Blaine Prince Prisbrey, known as the “Candy Man” for the peppermints he passed out to those he met from one end of the country to the other, hoping to make their day a little brighter, was born April 6, 1931 at Washington, Utah, the son of Zina Prince and Henry J. Prisbrey. He married his best friend, confidant, and eternal companion Karen Carlston on March 18, 1971. Their love was later solemnized on April 21, 1983 at the Provo Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A man of few words, quiet, gentle and wise, a faithful companion, and a dedicated father, he had many talents and skills that he has lovingly passed on to his children and grandchildren including the importance of hard work, frugality, and giving his best effort in everything he did. He was employed by Utah Power and Light Company for 36-years, retiring as a Crew Supervisor in 1986 due to Congestive Heart Failure. On May 18, 1987, Blaine became the 85"‘ recipient in the Utah Cardiac Transplant program, and his life was extended another 24 productive years. Not only did he receive a second chance at life, he inherited another wonderful family when Matthew Malinowski 24, of Goldendale, Wash. generously donated his organs so that others might live. His parents, wife, children and siblings have blessed our lives abundantly with their continued friendship, and support. Since the transplant Blaine worked part time for Gunnison City in their maintenance department, and as a school crossing guard. He and his wife also served as ordinance workers at the Manti LDS Temple for 10-year’s. Though insecure in expressing himself verbally, Blaine had a strong love and testimony of his Savior Jesus Christ, his Father in Heaven, Joseph Smith and the restoration of the gospel and priesthood powers, and the Book of Mormon, He expressed that love and testimony by giving quiet, unassuming service to others. Many were blessed by his anonymous generosity. Words alone can never adequately express our gratitude to the Malinowski family, the Utah Cardiac Transplant Team, Dr. Jan Christensen, the staff at the Gunnison Valley Hospital, Gunnison Home Health and Hospice staff including Carol, Leslie, Christie, Cheryl, Amy, and Pat. Blaine is survived by his devoted wife Karen, sons’ Dennis (Staci) of Aurora, Utah, Devin (Nanette) of Gunnison, Utah, Lindsay (Teresa) of Boise, Idaho. Daughters, Frances (Dave) Groves, West Jordan, and Lynette (Chuck) Giles of Heber City, a sister Geneva Stapley of Chester, Utah, brother Jack (VaLeita) Prisbrey of Olathe, Co. and sisters-in-law Afton (Ron) Proctor, American Fork, and Donna Wright, Murray, Utah, 20 grandchildren,and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughters Stephanie Prisbrey, and Stacy Lundin, his parents, two brothers, Maxwell, and Smith, four sisters and brother-in-law’s Lillie (Willard) Williams, Phebe (Stan) Mosley, Bette Rae (Mario) Salvagni, infant sister Pearl,and a bother-in-law Laroy Stapley, also a grandson Michael Giles. Services will be held Saturday, August, 13, 2011 at the Gunnison LDS Stake Center, 80 West Center St. in Gunnison. A viewing will be held Friday, August, 12, from 6-8 P.M. and Saturday morning, from 10 - 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Gunnison City Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina.