Ronald Lee Mecham

Ronald Lee Mecham was born January 9, 1947 in Provo, Utah, nearly three months premature. Surprising his doctors, he lived a fairly healthy life working with his father on the family fruit farm. He went to school with other children despite having significant vision problems his entire life. He did well in school, reading as he said, “with his nose.” He finished school and went on to graduate from Utah Technical College in auto mechanics. He used his training to repair farm machinery on the family ranch. 

When he was 14, his family moved to a 700 acre ranch near LaPoint, Utah in Duchesne County. He loved ranch life, especially anything to do with machinery. He loved to be out on a tractor plowing the earth. 

In 1976, he married Marilyn Brighton in the Provo Temple and they settled on the ranch working with horses, sheep, and their oldest son Ronald Sean. When his father sold the ranch they moved to Vernal, Utah where he worked as a custodian at the Junior High School. Their daughter, Shavon Louise was born there and he became a custodian with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which he considered a divine responsibility. He took great pride in keeping up the high gloss finish on the tiled hallways. They also had a daughter Lindsay Alayne and a son Micah Allan. 

In 1981, he had the opportunity to transfer to the Smithfield Stake Center where he continued to take pride in maintaining the house of the Lord. He especially enjoyed caring to the grounds which he mowed with a large tractor. 

He and Marilyn bought a house where they had another son, Aaron Earl and then tragically lost Micah to a brain tumor in 1984. That same year, the Lord blessed them with twin daughters Nicole Lillian and Natalie Tryphena.  In 1996 he lost much more of his vision due to radiation of a pituitary tumor. He was forced to retire from caring for church buildings. As a confirmed workaholic, he never really came to terms with retirement though he tried to be a stay at home dad while Marilyn worked. In 2005 he tragically lost another child as Shavon died from cancer.

Ron loved the gospel and served in many positions including a mission to the Lamanites in South Dakota,high Priests Group Leader, Sunday School President and High Priests Instructor where he impressed everyone with his ability to teach without using notes as he became totally blind.  His service provider Sandra Anderson would read the lesson to him over and over until he could teach it. He also had access to books on tape from the church curriculum. His favorite church calling was Stake Assistant Executive Secretary which allowed him to talk on the phone as much as he wanted.  

As Ron’s health continued to decline, Marilyn became unable to meet his needs and he moved into Sunshine Terrace where he passed away on April 10, 2024. 

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Earl Leon and Thora Tryphena Hales Mecham, an infant sister Annette and his two children, Micah and Shavon. He is survived by his wife Marilyn, son Sean(Alex), daughter Lindsay(Chris), son Aaron(Nicole), Nicki(Scott), Natty(Justin), and 25 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 19 at 11:30 am at the Smithfield LDS Church (340 E 300 S) with a viewing from 10 to 11 am. A viewing will be held Thursday, April 18 from 6 to 8 pm at Nelson Funeral Home of Smithfield (85 S Main). Interment will follow the funeral service in the Smithfield City Cemetery.