Buddy Bird

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       Our father, grandfather, great grandfather, great-great grandfather, brother,uncle, and dear friend, Buddy Jay Bird, age 92 of Duchesne, passed away peacefully on December 27, 2024, in the good care of those caring for him at the Parkside Manor in Roosevelt.
    He was born on March 30, 1932 in Bluebell, Ut to Lucy Bell and James Ivan Bird. He was the 4th of 7 children.
    He started working at a very young age hauling hay and working in the sawmills in the Uinta Mountains and could out work most of the grown men there. He later worked in the coal mines for a while.  He then got married to Verna Mae Muse on August 17, 1952. And just two months after they were married, he was called to serve in the Korean war in the Army.  He served 2 years, from September 26, 1952, to September 6, 1954. While serving his country, he was chosen from 16 other soldiers to become a military policeman.
    When he returned home, he started his career as a truck driver, and then began his family with Verna. They had 4 children, Tonya, Forrest, Rodney, & Lisa. They later divorced. Then he married Pauline Marsing on March 1, 1969, in Kearns Utah and gained 5 more children, Kathy, Ronda, Burke, Terry and Kevin Despain.
    Dad also, was a mechanic for JRJ for a time, and then he started his last job with Chevron oil, hauling crude to Salt Lake City to the refinery. He retired with Chevron at the age of 62 after many years of hard work, and then started enjoying his retirement taking care of his beautiful yard and his garden that he was so proud of.
    Dad enjoyed spending time with family and friends and going fishing, camping and hunting and helping with the Bird reunions. He also was very good at and enjoyed working with wood and he made a lot of different projects like kids picnic tables and little rocking chairs and he made bowls with lids, candle sticks and did a lot of carving bears and many other things.
    Dad was called to work in the Vernal temple and enjoyed serving there with Pauline as ordinance workers. He had a very strong testimony of the restored gospel and of the divinity of our Savior Jesus Christ and his atonement.
    Dad spent the last two years of his life in the care of the amazing employees at Parkside Manor in Roosevelt. They took great care of him there and everybody there bragged on what a great man he was, so kind and caring but a little hard of hearing.
    He is survived by his children, Forrest Bird, Duchesne; Rod (Sherrie) Bird, Grand Junction, CO; Lisa (Joe) Ivie, Roosevelt;  Ronda Despain, East Carbon; Terry (Marilyn) Despain, Duchesne; daughters-in-law, Chris Despain, Montana; Elaine Despain, Duchesne; sisters,  Hazel Bird, Ogden; Connie Gines, Salt Lake City; brother, Paul (Sandy) Bird, Bluebell; with numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
    He was preceded in death by his parents, James Ivan, and Lucy Bell Bird; wife, Pauline; brothers, Tal Bird, Jimmy Bird, sister, Rae Bell Jenkins; daughter, Tonya McGee; Stepsons, Burke and Kevin Despain; stepdaughter, Kathy Ivie; grandson, Issac Ivie.
    Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM at the Duchesne Stake Center.  Viewings will be held on Thursday evening at the church from 5:00 - 7:00 PM and Friday from 9:30 - 10:45 AM.
    Burial will be in the Duchesne City Cemetery with military honors presented by the Army Honor Guard and the Duchesne American Legion