Calvin "Kelly" Rees

Our father has toiled with hands and heart to make our lives complete. They quietly braved the winter cold and endured the summer heat. On January 14, 2009, our family held those hands so warm and tight and watched our father fade away and walk towards the Heavenly light. Calvin C. Rees passed away peacefully at his home at the age of 83 with his family by his side holding his hands. He was a remarkably talented and thoughtful person, and left this life with the same graciousness and love with which he lived. On April 26, 1925, he was born and raised in Coalville, to Ralph Miles and Melva Crittenden Rees.

Calvin, known as "Kelly" learned at a young age to use his hands working on the family farm and later delivered milk to all his friends and neighbors. He continued his career driving trucks across the country for Standard Plumbing. As he sat in his truck behind the wheel he became the entrepreneur of many things from solar heating, electronic probes, magna fuels and battery fluid. He loved sharing his ideas and working with people. It seemed as if his hands could repair, build or create anything.

He had a strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings, his favorite was teaching the youth in Sunday School.

Calvin married Ellen Tilley Rees on June 17, 1946 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Together they had seven children that learned from his strong but gentle hands: LaWana (Val) Tyler, Evanston, WY; Kerry Wagstaff, West Haven; Denton (Nancy) Rees, Washington Tearrace; Almarie (Jon) Daich, Layton; Starla (Mike) Rees, Roy; Marnae (Larry) Hoxer, Roy; and Brandon (Jessica) Rees, Roy. He also has 33 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren.

Including his wife and children he is survived by his siblings, Betty Workman, Pink (Lee) Rees, Peggy (Leon) Wilde, Marge (Art) Anderson, and David (Joann) Rees.

Preceded in death, to take his hand and greet him were his favorite cousin, Phebee Burroughs, his parents, twin brothers, Keith (Luene) and Kenneth (Mildred) Rees, two grandchildren, Christine Rees and Rachael Lynn Tyler.

Funeral services will be held Monday, January 19th at 2:00 p.m. at the Roy 7th Ward Chapel, 4900 South 2000 West.

Friends and family may call Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist''s Roy Mortuary, 3333 West 5600 South and on Monday at the church from to 12:45 to 1:45 p.m.

Interment, Lindquist''s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Road.

E-mail condolences to the family at www.lindquistmortuary.com