Richard DeVere "Dee" Calderwood

Richard DeVere “Dee” Calderwood, 93, passed away on his favorite day, the Sabbath, peacefully in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Taylor, Arizona. Dee was a lifelong, devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dee was born February 28, 1931 in Tremonton, Utah to Richard Alexander Calderwood and Bessie Scoffield. He had two younger brothers, Thayne and David and two younger sisters, Carmen and Kayla. He loved his family and was always proud of them.

Growing up, Dee worked on his parent’s 40-acre farm baling hay, thinning sugar beets and feeding livestock. Dee attended Bear River High School where he ran track, played football and rode bucking horses. He graduated in 1949, after which his activity in the FFA earned him a scholarship at Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, Utah. He completed one year of study in Animal Science before enlisting in the Navy in December 1950 at the start of the Korean War. He beat his draft notice by 1 day. He was first stationed in Okinawa, Japan and Barbers Point, Hawaii, where he repaired war planes. In his second year, he was chosen to attend flight school in Pensacola, Florida. After graduating flight school, Dee was stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas where he entered a rodeo and took first place in the bareback riding event, proudly beating all the local cowboys.

Later, while stationed in Palo Alto, California, Dee’s bishop introduced him to the love of his life, a school teacher by the name of Patricia Colter. They dated, but Pat wouldn’t marry a fly boy, so she left to teach school in London and Germany. Dee finished his military service there in Palo Alto on January 6, 1957 and the Sunday he returned home to Tremonton his bishop called him to serve in the North Western States Mission. He drove his own car to his mission and served 2 years, 1957-1959. When he returned home, he contacted Pat who was teaching again in Palo Alto and convinced her to marry him. They were sealed in the Logan Temple on September 28, 1959. They went back to Utah State Agricultural College to continue his studies. There, Pat taught elementary school and gave birth to their first child, Richard. Dee wanted to become a veterinarian, but Pat convinced him to become a dentist, instead. They attended Case Western Reserve Dental School in Cleveland, Ohio, where he studied with his dear friend Daryl Garn. There Pat continued to teach school and they had two more children, Joyce and Cathy. After graduation in 1965, Dee, his 8 ½-month pregnant wife and their 3 little kids drove a U-Haul and a Volkswagon bug across the country to Mesa, Arizona at the avid request of his lifelong friend, Ross Mason. Their final child, Chris was born 2 weeks after arriving.

Dee practiced dentistry in Mesa for 23 years before moving his family and practice to Eagar, Arizona. He also became the first non-Native-American dentist on the Navajo Reservation in Window Rock, Arizona. Dee helped pioneer dental implant surgery in the state of Arizona and he remained active in the American Dental Association his whole career. He loved being a dentist and was a good one, with hands that were steady as a rock. Dee was forced to retire from dentistry after a serious fall from his horse, at the age of 78.

Throughout his life, Dee always loved horses. He had his first horse while in the Navy, bought ponies and horses for his kids, bred Quarter Horses for 20+ years and enjoyed trail rides with his Cactus Riders group. He was quite artistic. Dee loved to build sheds and stables. He made jewelry, goose down bags and coats, chaps, belts and braided reins for bridles. He poured cement, tooled leatherwork and even finished sewing a prom dress or two.

Dee was a tremendous missionary to the very end of his life. He served in many bishoprics and the scouting program and loved being a Stake Missionary. Dee loved serving in the temple for many years. Later in life he and Pat loved going to Dee’s Bear River High School class reunions and to his Navy Squad reunions.

Dee loved his wife, his kids, his church, his horses, being a dentist and the Navy. He was a wonderful example of clean, righteous living and adevout disciple of the gospel of Jesus Christ He was a friend to everyone.

He is survived by his son, Richard Colter (Gina) Calderwood, daughters, Joyce (Mike) Udall Stokes, Catherine Glauser, Christine (Lynn) DeWitt, brothers, Robert Thayne (Jessie) Calderwood, David George (Della) Calderwood, sisters, Carmen (John) Southernand, Kayla Jane (Jim) Phillips, 24 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, with 3 on the way.

The Calderwood family would like to thank all of Dee’s friends in Mesa, Eagar and Taylor and especially all those he interacted with in Taylor in his later years. We also express appreciation for all of his sweet hospice caregivers; we cannot thank you enough for your wonderful service and acts of love.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 12:30 p.m. at Burnham Mortuary, 535 N. Main, Eagar, Arizona 85925. Interment will follow the services at the Eagar Cemetery, 295 W. 3rd St., Eagar, Arizona 85925.

Dee would love it if in lieu of flowers you donated to the Missionary Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And he would remind you that if you didn’t carry a pocket knife, you may as well be a girl!