David Robert Mallery passed away on July 18, 2026, at the age of 93 in Slaterville, Utah. He had lived in Green River for more than 55 years, leaving behind a lifetime of stories, adventures, laughter, and memories that could fill a book.
Dave was born on a wintry February 26, 1933, in his family’s home in Rock River, to Myrtle Adelaide Mallery and James Alvin Mallery. With the assistance of his dad and sister, Dorothy, he made his entrance into the world—and from there, it seems the adventures never stopped.
Dave grew up in the small town of Rock River, where his love for hard work, cattle, trucks, and adventure started at a very young age. When he was only about four years old, anytime he saw a cloud of dust rising from the stockyards, he would holler to his mom, “Ma, I’m headed to the stockyards!” And off he would go to help herd the cattle.
Dave was also pretty well taken care of by his mom. When he was young, she made sure he had a coffee can full of fresh homemade fudge next to his bed every day. It was one of those little memories from his childhood that gave a glimpse into the life of a boy who was deeply loved.
His older sister, Bonnie, took Dave along on many of her adventures when they were young, and the two of them collected enough stories together to keep a family entertained for years.
Dave learned the meaning of hard work early. By age 11, he was helping haul lumber on lumber trucks, and by 13, he was driving them himself. Those early years were only the beginning of a lifetime filled with incredible experiences—and, oh, the stories he could tell about them!
Dave attended school in Rock River and graduated in a class of just two students. He went on to attend the University of Wyoming before joining the United States Army in 1953, serving during the Korean War.
After his time in the military, Dave decided he wanted to see the country. He found the perfect way to do it and became what is friend, Darren Gregory so perfectly described as a “truck driver extraordinaire.”
Driving truck wasn’t simply a job for Dave—it became part of who he was. Mile after mile and year after year, he saw the country from behind the wheel and gathered even more stories along the way. And if you knew Dave, chances are you heard a few of them. He was a storyteller through and through, with a quick wit, a mischievous sense of humor, and a way of turning an ordinary memory into something worth listening to.
Somewhere along the way, Dave met the love of his life, Kathleen. When he met her, she was already the mother of four young children, Fern, Carl, Robert, and Susan. Dave didn’t just fall in love with Kathleen—he chose the whole family and stepped into a life with four little ones to love and help raise.
When Dave and Kathleen married, a friend told them, “It’ll never last.” Well, they sure proved that prediction wrong. They built a life together and were married for 57 years.
Two years after they married, they welcomed their youngest child, Karen, completing their family.
Through those 57 years came all the things that make up a life together—raising five children, working hard, making memories, weathering difficult times, laughing through the good ones, and growing older side by side.
When Kathleen passed away in 2019, a piece of Dave went with her. After 57 years together, he was lost without her. After seven long years without Kathleen by his side, there is something comforting in imagining that their 57-year love story has simply picked up where it left off.
Dave lived a long life, but it wasn’t simply the number of years that made his life remarkable. It was everything he packed into those years—the places he went, the work he did, the people he loved, the laughter he created, and especially the stories he left behind.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, Dorothy, Howard, and Bonnie; his in-laws, George Phelps and Annie Tingey, his beloved wife of 57 years, Kathleen; his daughter, Fern; his son, Carl; and his grandsons, Lynn and Joe.
He is survived by his children, Robert Morgan (Dodey), Susan Semon, and Karen Wayment (Jeff); 14 grandchildren; and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, along with many other family members and friends who were fortunate enough to know and love him.
More than anything, Dave leaves behind a family filled with memories and stories
Dave lived 93 years, and he lived them with plenty of hard work, adventure, laughter, a little mischief, and one heck of a lot of stories.
There was only one Dave Mallery, and those lucky enough to know and love him will have stories to tell about him for generations to come.
Rest easy, Dad. We’ll take it from here—and we’ll keep telling your stories.
