Myrna June Clark Dutson

 Myrna June Clark Dutson
December 24, 2025

Myrna Dutson was born on June 28, 1930 to Alma Porter Clark and Lavinia Irene Cardin Afton, Wyoming. She passed away on December 24, 2025 at her home in St. George, Utah with loved ones by her side.

Myrna was the second youngest of nine children and grew up mainly in the small communities of Star Valley, Wyoming-Afton, Thayn, Auburn, and Freedom. In Freedom, the school was on the Wyoming /Idaho border, and she said you could hit a softball in Wyoming and it might land in Idaho. As her family worked on the various farms in these communities, she often helped milk the herds of cows. As she attended high school in Afton, Myrna learned to love good music as it was provided in their home, and she became a very accomplished pianist. Family members especially loved to listen to records on the phonograph of the great tenors of the time, particularly Caruso.

Myrna met her sweetheart, Max Dutson, who had just returned from World War 2, after serving in the navy. They fell in love and were married in the Logan Temple on March18, 1947. At the time of his death in 2023, they had been married more than 76 years. She offered all of her love and strength for his care in the last years of his life. Myrna and her husband were active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and they served a mission to Chicago in 1997 to help with storing and extracting genealogical information. They loved working together in this opportunity.

She learned, through using musical and other creative talents, to serve others. With her piano playing ability, she was a highly sought-after accompanist for singers or instrumentalists who performed in various venues. Myrna was often asked to write and help with road shows and was very talented in this. For many years, she played piano in a dance orchestra called the Gem Tones. For over 30 years, she sang in a women's trio and a quartet, and they performed at funerals and other events.

Myrna loved to help others learn to play the organ, and she gave it her all, and as she taught youth and adults; it changed many of their lives. She also worked for the local funeral home as a paid accompanist on organ or piano for many years. In her later years, Myrna volunteered to play the piano in at least two assisted living facilities. She was a witness to how the power of love and music can lift and bless others.

One of the most important things to her in her life was to provide musical opportunities for her children. As they grew up, she taught them piano, and when they advanced she would provide lessons for them with other teachers. Each child was also given a chance to learn or perform on other instruments, particularly stringed-i.e., violin, viola, or cello.

Myrna did all she could to help provide for the family as she taught up to 55 piano students in their home. She also found odd and seasonal jobs. As she took the older children with her to pick cherries, this helped them learn how to work and earn their own money. Most of what they earned went toward buying their own clothes and school supplies. With most of her children raised, Myrna worked at the post office as a rural mail carrier, which she did for 28 years. She loved this job as she was very friendly and sociable with other people. Perhaps the greatest thing Myrna did for her growing family was to make sure regular family home evenings and reading Bible and Book of Mormon scripture stories was done in the home. She felt this practice helped her children learn about God and to better use His teachings in their lives.

Myrna is survived by her sister-in-law, Gayle McRill, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; her children: Carolyn Thayn (Clyde-deceased), Emmett, Idaho; Porter Dutson (Barbara), West Jordan, Utah; Danette Garrett (Paul), Charlotte, North Carolina; Debra Van Wagoner(Dave), Castledale, Utah; Brad Dutson (Bonnie), Woods Cross, Utah; Dex Dutson(Sherry), Albion, Idaho; Darin Dutson (Karla), Farmington, Utah; 38 grandchildren; 105 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters, Wanda Limb, Boise, Idaho; and Geraldine Johnson, Hurricane, Utah.

Myrna Dutson is preceded in death by her husband, Max; her parents; her brothers-Alma Card Clark, Paul Clark, Dean Clark, and Lynn Doyle Clark; and by her sisters Joyce Elzinga, and Barbara Bassett.

A viewing will be held on Friday, January 9th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon at the LDS Church at 6695 South 2200 West; West Jordan, Utah.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be held Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 10 AM to11:15 AM at the LDS Grover Ward building at 1156 Highway 237; Grover, Wyoming. The dedication of the grave will take place at 12:00 Noon at the Grover Cemetery. It is just 5 miles north of Afton, east of Highway 89.

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. 435-673-2454.

Friends and family are invited to share memories on her digital guestbook below.