Gaylin Wallace Poulson
Gaylin Wallace Poulson, 87, passed away on the evening of January 29, 2022, at the home of his daughter, Kim, in Weddington, NC. (The hospice nurse arrived after midnight, establishing January 30, 2022, as his official death date.) Gaylin was born in Salina, Utah on July 22, 1934, to Wallace Gustave and Arnelda Murphy Poulson of Redmond, Utah. He married Colleen Howell on September 9, 1960, in the Salt Lake City Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Colleen preceded him in death on April 25, 2018.
Gaylin is survived by his five children: Shelly (Paul) Jordan of Oak Park, CA; Deborah (Curt) McArthur of Washington, UT; Melonie Hines of Westminster, CO; Kyle (Alison Beesley) Poulson of Kaysville, UT; and Kimberly (Jeff) Herbst of Weddington, NC; twenty-two grandchildren: nine great-grandchildren; and four siblings: Kathleen (Dennis) Jensen; John (Sharon) Poulson; LaRue (John) Stuart; and Kurt (Susan) Poulson. Gaylin was preceded in death by his sister Shanna (Larry) McFarland.
From his father, Gaylin inherited a love of hunting and fishing in the mountains surrounding Redmond. For brief periods, the family lived away from Redmond, including some formative years in San Francisco, CA where Gaylin’s father worked during WWII. As a young adult, Gaylin proudly served in the Air Force during the Korean War from 1953-1957. The GI bill opened opportunities for a college education that Gaylin had not previously considered. After a semester at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, he realized he needed to hone his English and math skills to succeed in college, so he took classes at a high school in Salt Lake City, UT. He supported himself by working at a gas station. While pumping gas and washing windshields, he drew the attention of a beautiful young driver, Colleen Howell, who became the love of his life.
While courting and newly married, Gaylin earned his Business Administration degree from Utah State University. Gaylin and Colleen spent the next fifty-seven years building a beautiful life together as they raised five children. Gaylin’s managerial work in the mining and oil industry took the family to Utah, New Mexico, California, and Colorado. In 1985, Gaylin and Colleen became business partners when they purchased a quick printing business. A few years after selling Able Printing & Graphics in 2010, Gaylin and Colleen served a mission together for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Denver, CO. They retired to St. George, Utah in 2016.
Gaylin’s quick wit and caring nature endeared him to his family and friends. He loved road trips, and he traveled many miles to show up for the people he loved. In his home and wherever he visited, there was always good food, great fun, and plenty of laughter.
Funeral Services were held Saturday, February 12, 2022 at the Washington Fields Stake Sandia Chapel, 628 South 3000 East, St. George, Utah. Gaylin was laid to rest next to his wife, Colleen, at Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 South Dixie Drive, St. George, Utah.
Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221. Please visit our website at www.metcalfmortuary.com for condolences, complete obituary and funeral listings.
