Marlon Dale King

Marlon Dale King, 67, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on April 19, 2025, in Clinton, Utah.

Dale is survived by his children: Katie King, Brendon (Emily) King, Brady (Cecilia) King, Elizabeth King, and Ian King; his grandchildren: Noah Leyba, Nicoli Leyba, Cohen King, Miles King, Oaklee King, Kannon King, Kase King, Kelly King, and Kooper King; and his siblings Trisha Madsen, Diane King, and Ryan King.

In his early life, Dale grew up in a small home in Murray, Utah, with his mom, dad, and three siblings. As a young child, he enjoyed accompanying his father on mail routes during his work as a mailman. From an early age, Dale was a dedicated and curious student. He excelled in school, and it was evident early on that he had a bright academic future ahead.

Dale became an Eagle Scout ahead of schedule, reflecting his commitment to character development, leadership, and service. He held several church callings early on, including serving as the deacons quorum president and first counselor in the teachers quorum. He also served in a leadership role in his Young Single Adult ward, where friends remember Dale often making personal sacrifices to meet the needs of those he served. Dale also enjoyed playing sports, and throughout his youth he participated on several church teams, including basketball, softball, and volleyball.

At a young age, he discovered a passion and talent for art, painting numerous works throughout high school and adulthood. He especially enjoyed painting nature scenes and landscapes. In high school, he served on the yearbook committee as lead photographer, and was a member of the National Honor Society, recognized for excellence in scholarship, service, leadership, and character. He purchased his first car, a 1974 green Camaro, by saving money through jobs he held early on. Dale was known among his peers for his kind heart, compassion, and willingness to befriend and stand up for others.

Dale served a full-time LDS mission in Nagoya, Japan. He cherished the memories from his mission and often shared them with his children. While serving, he developed a strong knowledge of the gospel, and a deep love for the Japanese people and culture, remaining in contact with some of his converts later in life. After graduating from the University of Utah College of Law in 1990, Dale held several legal positions early in his career but spent a large part of his career practicing law as a Senior Attorney at Lexington Law Firm where he worked for 13 years. He was certified to practice law in several states, including Massachusetts, Minnesota, Idaho, Tennessee, and Utah. Dale was highly respected by his colleagues and was often sought out to provide advice and guidance for complex matters by both junior and senior colleagues. He valued his relationships at work, with many feeling that in addition to being a colleague, he was also a friend. Even despite holding the title of Senior Attorney, Dale was known as one of the friendliest individuals at the firm, always carrying a positive outlook and upbeat attitude. One of his roles within the firm was handling difficult clients and diffusing high-pressure situations—something he did with grace and empathy. He had an innate ability to connect with people and make them feel at ease, always leaving them feeling like they were in good hands.

Even with a demanding career, Dale was a valiant servant to his community. He served two terms on the Clinton City Council from 2001-2009, sat on the Davis County Sewer District Board, and contributed to the planning and zoning of several parks and businesses in Clinton. Dale saw the value in public safety and always fought to ensure that firefighters and police officers within the city were well taken care of. His passion for politics, combined with his legal expertise, made him a fair yet tenacious member of the city council, always standing up for what was right.

Dale was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His faith was deeply important to him, and he held many callings throughout his life. Most notably, he taught Gospel Doctrine for several years and served as a Sunday School teacher within the primary. He had a special way of explaining complex doctrine that allowed everyone in the room to understand, using modern-day comparisons, humor, and thought-provoking questions to engage his class. Many ward members have shared how impactful his teaching was. Dale also had a strong love for genealogy and spent many hours serving at the Family History Center.

In his later years, despite facing many health challenges, Dale’s faith never wavered. He found strength in Christ and often expressed how the apostles’ words helped him through his challenges. One of his favorite scriptures was Doctrine & Covenants 122:7: “And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.”

Dale had many cherished hobbies. He was a gifted artist, regularly using his talents to benefit family, friends, and even strangers. Even in his later years, he always had at least one painting that he was working on for someone. While painting came effortlessly to Dale, his attention to detail demanded that every element be just right. He poured great care into every piece, striving to honor the essence of what he portrayed. He also loved building models—tanks, ships, and cars—many of which he proudly displayed. He enjoyed golfing and playing tennis, was an avid BYU fan (despite attending U of U), and had a passion for classic cars. Dale also loved classic movies, and his John Wayne impression was known and loved by many. A passionate debater, he loved engaging in political discussions and had a gift for finding common ground, even with those who held opposing views, while staying true to his own beliefs.

Dale was a devoted father and grandfather. His children were the center of his life, and he never missed an opportunity to tell them—and others— how proud he was. His children remember him leading by example. He wanted to instill in them the virtues, values, and principles he believed in. He loved spontaneous trips with his children, with no agenda other than to explore and make memories. His kids remember him as a dad who always had a sense of humor or a joke to tell, whether it was “silly walks” to church, or “midnight runs” after fast Sunday, Dale was always trying to provide an atmosphere of fun and togetherness.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’s Syracuse Mortuary. 869 South 2000 West, Syracuse UT. Friends may visit with family on Friday, May 2, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary.

Interment, Clinton City Cemetery.