Jay Evard Welch

Jay Evard Welch died on December 14, 2008 at the age of 83.

He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on November 6, 1925 to Jesse Evard and Pearl Snow Welch. He married Marcelle Beecher on March 21, 1951 in the Salt Lake Temple. They had six daughters. He grew up in Utah and California, and served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean conflict.

He graduated from UCLA with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a minor in music and then from the Paris National Conservatory of Music. He went on to obtain a master's degree in composition at Mills College, and a Ph.D. in music from the University of Utah, where he taught for 39 years and received Outstanding Professor, Favorite Professor and Distinguished Teaching awards.

In addition to being a gifted educator, he was a composer, conductor, and founder of several musical organizations, including the Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus, the Salt Lake Repertory Orchestra, and the Jay Welch Chorale. Among others, he received the Honors in the Arts award and Governor's Award in the Arts.

He was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served in many capacities, including teaching countless classes and serving as Bishop of the Cottonwood 11th Ward. He served two full time missions, first in the French Mission, and later, with his wife, in the France Paris Mission. He cherished his 17-year association with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, as assistant conductor and conductor.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Marcelle; daughters, Megan (Eric) Hayes, Michele (Doug) Herrscher, Maile (Don) Verbica, Marlyse Timmins, and Merla Welch; son-in-law Ken (Pat) Bell; 20 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Bob (Della Mae) Welch, Ted (Marilyn) Welch, Bonnie (Wendell) Waite and Kay Welch. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Melinda Bell; and siblings, Mary Smith, Marge McGregor, Jerry Welch and Bill Welch.

Funeral Services will be held at 12 noon on Thursday, December 18, 2008 at the Bonneville Stake Center, 1535 East Bonneview Drive. Friends and family may call at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East 1300 South on Wednesday from 5:30-8 p.m. and at the Stake Center on Thursday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Farmington City Cemetery. Published in the Deseret News from 12/16/2008 - 12/17/2008.

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial by SmartCopy: Mar 1 2015, 6:30:09 UTC