Donlon Philip “Phil” DeLaMare Jr.

December 21, 1952 - March 29, 2024

Donlon Philip “Phil” DeLaMare Jr., age 72, passed away recently in his home in North Salt Lake, Utah. Phil was born December 21, 1952, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Donlon Philip and Ardith Kimball DeLaMare.

Growing up, Phil was a partner in crime with his older sister, Virginia “Ginger” DeLaMare Cannon, and they helped lead the way for six more younger brothers in their home with stories of play, mischief, work, and fun that could fill volumes. Phil and Ginger had a close bond, but got into such trouble at times in their younger days it’s a marvel that Donlon and Ardith ended up with six more boys, after Phil.

Phil grew into adulthood and with his large stature he proficiently played many sports, but honed his skills especially in baseball, softball, and basketball, which paved the way for many of his younger brothers to team up with him and stack church and school teams for many years. He loved telling stories of how he would anticipate fly balls and wind up to throw runners out at home plate from center field with his strong throwing arm or would work on dunking a basketball at the church gym.

After graduating from East High School, Phil served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Caracas, Venezuela from 1972-1974. Upon his return home from his mission, Phil led a large group of teen boys (including most of his brothers) on a strenuous bike ride all the way from his home Garden Park Ward in Salt Lake City to Lake Powell, in southern Utah where they met up with several leaders and were rewarded with some time at the lake and boating. This is just one example of Phil’s work ethic and strong physical abilities, which were two of his strengths.

Not much later, Phil married Deborah “Debbie” Anderson DeLaMare in the Salt Lake Temple on June 12, 1975, and they had eight children together. They lived for a short time in Cedar City, UT where he briefly attended Southern Utah University, but due to a career opportunity for Phil at UPS they moved back to the Salt Lake area and Phil spent nearly 30 years working for UPS and delivered packages for many years to the Cottonwood Heights and canyon area. Phil retired from UPS in 2005 and loved spending time reading newspapers, tending to his special needs daughter, Eliza, indexing, and taking care of local church buildings in their area. Phil served in many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ, including Young Men's President, branch president, Bishop’s Counselor, High Councilor, Ward Clerk, Stake Mission Leader, and Home Teacher. When he was sustained as Bishop in November of 2014, he said that he wouldn’t have had that calling without having married Debbie. In Phil’s life, aside from the Savior’s Atonement and the influence of the Holy Ghost, Debbie had the greatest impact for good.

Phil had a gift of information from all his readings that he loved to tell others about and was often remembered for his stories. Phil and Debbie sold their home in Sugarhouse after Phil had a stroke in late 2017. They purchased a home in North Salt Lake in early 2019 which better accommodated their needs and challenges, but later divorced on August 30, 2019. He continued living in North Salt Lake until the time of his death and painted scores of fire hydrants in the area.

Phil is survived by seven of his eight children: Mary Crowley, Don (April) DeLaMare, Rebecca (Elden) Wood, Ruthie Higbee, Diane (Adam) Bealer, Sarah (Jared) Bauer, Andrew (Angela) DeLaMare, and his six younger brothers: Kimball (Lisa), David (Kayla), Richard (Julie), Randall (Karen), Michael (Jeanette), James (Carolyn) DeLaMare, and his 24 grandchildren.

Phil was preceded in death by his parents Donlon & Ardith DeLaMare, sister Virginia “Ginger” DeLaMare Cannon, daughter Eliza Jane DeLaMare, grandchildren Oliver Edmund Wayne Bauer, and Asenath Evalyn “Eva” Wood.

In lieu of flowers, paint your local fire hydrant.