Beck Lamar Jessop

Our dear Uncle, Beck LaMar Jessop, age 72, passed peacefully into his next adventure after a brief illness, on December 29, 2022.

Uncle Beck was born on April 16, 1950, in Short Creek, Arizona, to Leota Dockstader and Edson Porter Jessop. He was raised in a large extended family, calling many his siblings, (his, hers, mine, and ours!) whether they were blood related or not. As a youth, he lived in Salt Lake City with his mother, but often spent time in Short Creek working alongside his father, helping in the upbuilding of the community. He earned his high school diploma from the Colorado City Academy, and shortly afterward moved to SLC and was baptized into the LDS church. He served a mission for the church in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Uncle Beck was very patriotic and loved his country. Upon returning from his church mission, he enlisted in the US Coast Guard, proudly serving and protecting the USA during the Vietnam War.

He had many career paths, including professional truck driver, short order cook, heavy equipment operator, mechanic, and many more.

Eventually he went to barber school in SLC and became a licensed professional barber. He opened his own establishment, Barber Beck’s Sharp Scissors Shop back home in Colorado City.

An avid fisherman, he went on many exotic fishing adventures, and could out-fish anyone. His favorite thing was to bring his catch home and cook it up, share it, and tell all the fish tales along with it, (“it weren’t no bigger than the tip of my thumb!”) with all us peeps. His cooking skills were absolutely legendary. He was quick witted, with a great sense of humor, but he was best known for his big heart. Although he never had children of his own, he loved all us kids, and was “Uncle Beck” to the entire community. He wasn’t wealthy, but he was generous with what he had. He used to bring the best peaches from his trees, and his famous dutch-oven dinners to share with his peeps every chance he got.

Uncle Beck was extremely proud of his community and his heritage. He was a very loyal person. He was “In The Work,” and never lost his testimony of The Gospel. He leaves behind his sweetheart, Laurene, and lots and lots and lots of siblings.

“Semper Paratus.” We will miss you, Uncle Beck. You will be in our stories and in our hearts.

A family visitation will take place on Thursday, January 5, 2023, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm, at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, Utah.

A public visitation will take place on Friday, January 6, 2023, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm, at the Holm Heritage Center, 1065 North Carling Street, Hildale, Utah.

Another visitation will take place on Saturday, January 7, 2023, from 10:00 – 11:30 am, followed with the funeral services beginning at 12:00 am, at the same location.

Interment will take place at the Isaac Carling Memorial Park Cemetery, 500 Township Ave, Colorado City, Arizona.

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. 435-673-2454.

Family and friends are invited to leave a memory on Beck’s obituary page at www.spilsburymortuary.com