Clark Oviatt Obituary (1933-2021) – Vernal, UT

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Clark H. Oviatt, 88 years old, died on August 25, 2021 at his home in Vernal, Utah. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, teacher, and more. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in many positions.
Clark was born on January 3, 1933 in Elmo, Utah to Della Leola Emmaline (Jensen) and Harvey Lynn Oviatt. He grew up in Emery County and attended 4-H where he raised and exhibited livestock, especially oxen. His 4-H activities included serving as Mayor of the 4-H State of Utah Congress and winning the Grand Champion Steer at the local County Fair and Utah State Fair. While in school, Clark got a seasonal job with the United States Forest Service, which worked in the Manti-La Sal National Forest. He graduated from North Emery High School and attended Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah, and continued to work for the US Forest Service in the Dixie National Forest. After graduating from SUU, he moved to Utah State University in Logan, Utah, where he studied agricultural education.
While studying at Utah State University, Clark met Ora Fay Wardle at a 4-H meeting on campus. He courted Ora Fay by attending her many operatic and musical performances, and the couple married on June 25, 1958 in Salt Lake City, Utah. During the summer breaks from Logan College, Clark continued to work for the US Forest Service in the Dixie National Forest. After graduating from USU with a bachelor’s degree, the couple moved to Altamont, Utah, where they taught agricultural science at Altamont High School. In 1960 the couple moved to Vernal, Utah, where he received an apprenticeship at Vernal Middle School of Science. He also continued his career with the US Forest Service by moving from the Dixie National Forest to the Ashley National Forest. Clark and Ora Fay started their family in 1965 with the birth of their first child, daughter Ora Marjean Oviatt. In 1969 they had their son Philip Clark Oviatt; Daughter Mary Joelle (Oviatt) List, 1970; and daughter, Merietta Oviatt, 1976.
Mr. Oviatt was, as most people remember him, a popular science teacher for so many at Vernal. He taught several generations of students who remember his friendly and gentle style of teaching. He was named National Science Teacher of the Year in 1969 for his USAF Gemini Spaceship capsule model project, in which students mimicked the environment astronauts encountered during Gemini space missions. During his tenure in the Uintah School District, he initiated and developed the Uintah Basin Science Fair with national recognition. After 39 years of service with the community youth, he retired from the Uintah School District in 1999. Despite retiring from the school district, he continued serving with the US Forest Service for an additional nine years, and retired in 2008 after 53 years of service. His long service to his beloved Forest Service was forever remembered by the Forest Service organization with the dedication of “Clark’s Park” on Taylor Mountain.
Clark was a proud father and grandpa. He loved smuggling caramel and biscuits for his little grandchildren and was always ready to brag about the achievements of his children and grandchildren. He had a soft spot for his cats and dogs and spoiled them. He kept giving his dogs a portion of his dinner and giving way too many treats to his cats and dogs at every opportunity.
Clark leaves behind his wife, Ora Fay (Wardle); Children of Ora Marjean Oviatt from Denver; Philip C. Oviatt (Miken) of Bakersfield, CA; Mary Joelle List (Mark) from Norman, OK; Merietta Oviatt (Justin Shearer) of Vernal; and 12 grandchildren.
In death he was preceded by his parents Harvey and Della Oviatt and his sister Leola Emmaline Oviatt.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 4, at the Maeser Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Visits to the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary on Friday, September 3, from 6pm to 8pm, and on Saturday from 12:45 to 1:45pm in the church before the funeral services. The funeral will take place at Rock Point Cemetery under the direction of the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Clark Oviatt, please visit our flower shop.

Posted by Blackburn Vernal Mortuary – Vernal on October 22, 2021.

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