Memories of Karl Jessop/Dad:
People were asked to describe dad in two words: The most common descriptors were :
#1 answer: Hard working;
He was quiet & reserved; Humble, Faithful, Extremely Patient, and a Peacemaker,
He was dedicated and determined (didn’t give up on hard tasks) and generous with his time and resources.
He was very committed to the gospel; Never complained, and could fix anything and everything.
He was Resilient (he survived everything, got back up, brushed himself off, and got back to work without complaint),
Never spoke bad about others or gossipped.
Good at pinochle, chess, horseshoes, and fishing
He adored babies
Some described him as “the salt of the earth.” (JoMay’s son Steven Jessop)
He gave faithful service to his fellow man and always did his duty (Aunt Sherry & Mary Dawn)
Several kids used the word “Tired” to describe dad. He worked hard all day long and when he’d get home, he’d grab the newspaper and sit down to read. He’d kick off one shoe and was asleep before he could get the other one off. Not sure he ever had time to read the newspaper cover to cover, but it sure was a comfortable sleeping companion for him. When he was called for dinner, the kids would move the newspaper and say “Daddy, Daddy dinner is ready.” But he’d sleep right through it until you said “Karl” and then he’d wake up instantly.)

While very young, dad’s family struggled through the depression, grandpa’s imprisonment for living plural marriage, and grandpa’s stroke when dad was in his early twenties. Dad suffered from malnutrition (like they all did) and he became very skinny and sickly. After entering the army he finally gained weight and better health.
Daddy always had a tender spot in his heart for his mother, Granda Maleta, and helped provide for her long after he got married and left the home.
While serving in Germany, daddy saw lots of children begging. He’d stuff the army ration candy bars in his backpack and give them out to the little kids. He loved seeing how grateful they were.
Dad didn’t like to talk about his experiences during the Korean war, but Dyan mentioned that he came to her daughters school on Veterans Day and talked to her class about the cool weapons he used. She said “I hadn't known that he was so excited about guns.” (He rarely used or spoke of guns and did not delight in bloodshed.) In fact, years ago Dad used to go hunting with his brothers and his oldest sons. One time he shot a deer and it wasn’t dead when he came up to it. The deer turned and looked straight at him and it took the desire to hunt right out of him. He never went hunting again.
One of our fondest shared memories is of dad trying to get warm by the wood burning stove. It was too hot to sit down on, so he’d slide his bum back and forth over the hot surface trying to get warm. Once he did sit down and burned a hole through his coat.
Daddy looked young for his age and was physically active up until the last week of his life. Ruth said she took dad with her last year to see a movie and one of the ladies from work thought dad was her date and was surprised to learn he was her father. She remembers dad playing football with the kids in the front yard and she was shocked because she never knew he played sports.
Dad hated to be pushed to leave somewhere; but when he was ready, he would leave immediately and if you weren’t ready - he’d leave you. Mary and Renae remember wanting to get to the dances on time and trying to encourage daddy to hurry. But the more we pushed him the slower dad would go. To the point that he’d sit there and sort socks. Dad did not like to be rushed.

Some people didn’t know dad’s real name and thought he was named “Kiddle” because that’s what everyone called him.
Daddy was a Jack of all trades and a handy guy to have around. He was often found fixing appliances, pianos, electrical issues, plumbing, HVAC systems, cars - you name it. Whatever broke, he'd figure out a way to fix it. Even if he didn’t know how, it never stopped him from diving in and somehow getting the job done anyway.
Dad was a good example of commitment and dedication. He was always the first one at work projects and usually the last one to leave and was willing to go wherever and whenever anyone called. Many teasingly but truthfully said that dad was so busy helping everyone else: “If we were another family we’d probably see him more often.” (Rulon, Aunt Alyce, etc.)
We always pictured dad dying while at work, with a hammer in his hand. You probably noticed the hammer he is holding in the casket, because we know he won’t lay there long before Heavenly Father calls him to help with some work project He’s doing. His hammer says “Father, I’m ready! Karl” That signifies dad’s attitude about working for the Lord or his fellow man.
Many of the boys remember working with dad during the summers of their High School years. He taught several of them how to use the equipment with some continuing on in that profession because of what they learned working with dad.
Phil said dad was one of the hardest workers he had ever known and was like the energizer bunny with an unmatched work ethic. He never officially retired and only stopped doing construction work a few months ago when his body could no longer keep up. The man was a force of nature.
Dad didn’t generally initiate any conversations and didn’t just talk to talk. When he did talk - we knew it was time to listen. Dad and the boys often rode back and forth to work in silence. One day on the ride home dad said “I’m proud of you son.” as he grabbed Rulon’s leg and squoze it. Getting praise like that from dad was a rare and treasured thing.

Dad loved spending time with his brothers and their families, going camping, watching football or basketball games, playing horseshoes, chess, you name it - and always with good food around.
Our parents shared stories of what may have been visits from one of the 3 Nephites or John the Beloved showing up in Murray and also in Ronan, Idaho. They delivered food or joined them for a cup of soup and then disappeared without leaving footsteps in the snow. Whether it was angelic intervention or not, they all knew the Lord was looking out for them and heaven was near.
Dad was very solemn and quiet and didn’t talk a lot. Dad was more of an example through his actions than he was through his words. He was even-tempered and slow to anger. Though he didn’t seek people out and initiate conversations very often, he was always welcoming when anyone needed to talk or wanted his help or advice.
Dad showed up when he was invited, whether to work projects or baby blessings, even if it meant traveling out of state to help or be there for his family. He loved his grandkids. He would whisper in the baby's ears,”I love you, God loves you, you are so special to me,” and other endearing words. Even in-laws noticed dad’s love for babies and often noticed him cooing and babbling to them and bouncing them on his knee.
Dad loved to sing and dance. He taught most of his daughters how to dance, often by standing on his feet while he moved to the pattern. Most of us girls have fond memories of dancing with daddy at the monthly Rosie dances. He was a confident and graceful dancer. In fact, Aunt Jeryl said he helped teach them how to dance too, as Grandpa Lyman would pair the older boys with the younger kids to teach them the steps.
Some of the kids’ fondest memories of dad were going fishing. Even in his old age, you'd find him in the middle of the stream in some remote location catching double the fish of anyone else. He knew all the best fishing holes and could outfish anyone. Mary recalled one Antimony trip when she was around 6 or 7 and they were headed home when dad found out that she hadn’t caught anything. So dad stopped the car on the side of the road and he helped Mary get the fishing pole ready and throw it in the water and dad stayed with her until she caught a fish. That’s how important fishing was for dad and he wanted to instill a love of it in his kids so he’d have lots of excuses for going fishing.

Many years ago, Grandpa Rulon Clark Allred mentioned in a Sacrament meeting about the brethren not helping like they should at work projects. He reported that he’d show up at one and the only brethren there were the two Jessop boys, and named dad by name. Grandpa Rulon said about dad “He’s always at every work project the Priesthood ever called for.” This is reaffirmed by his children. He gave his all to the work of the Lord.
Warner and dad worked side by side most of their life. He knew that whatever dad took on, he’d stay at it til the job was done, no matter how difficult. His sons have some of those same traits.
Warner noticed in some people’s homes, the kids would all disappear when their dad got home. But not at our house! When dad got home everyone ran to see him and give him a hug. Mom even taught the kids songs to sing to welcome daddy home. Everyone loved daddy coming home.
Some of the kids remember having pillow fights and tickle fights with dad. The kids had to team up against dad because he was so strong. But he was super ticklish and with so many kids ganging up on him, he would be incapacitated within minutes. Then he’d get all flustered by his inability to retaliate and say “No more. We’re done.” Being vulnerable was not something he was comfortable with.
Dad wanted to create peace and even if you weren’t at fault, he wanted you to be the peacemaker. Once dad grounded everyone from going to the dance because something naughty had been done and no one was confessing. All the teens were crying and upset because they didn’t get to go to the dance (everyone loved the dances and it was the highlight of each month). Martha finally confessed even though she hadn’t done it, so that the others would stop crying and could go. Dad made her stay home as punishment “for what she had done”, even though she was innocent.
For her graduation he bought her a purple rose corsage. That meant a lot to her.
Dad loved ice cream. Sometimes mom would get a 5 gallon bucket of ice cream and we’d all get one bowl and then dad would start eating out of the bucket. He was always skinny, he could eat whatever he wanted and not gain weight.
All the kids shared memories of going camping in Antimony at the old homestead where Grandpa Lyman Jessop’s family had once lived. Daddy usually took off by himself early in the morning to go fishing and didn’t usually take anyone with him, because it was his quiet time and they might “scare the fish away.” Dad always caught lots of fish and would have the fish fried for dinner. He was a firm believer of eating what was caught and not wasting it.
Several of the married kids have taken dad to Antimony fishing with their own little family, just to let their kids get to know their grandpa without a big crowd of people around. Those are some of their most cherished memories with him

Daddy never complained. You heard the list of some of his injuries - and that wasn’t even half of them. Seems the devil was testing him like Job. In fact, of all the men in the scriptures, we think daddy related to Job the most. One one occasion, Grandpa Rulon told dad to stay home and take care of some serious boils he had. Instead of murmuring to God, he bore his intense pain and suffering mostly in silence and simply said “Poor Job. Poor Poor job.” He definitely could relate to Job.
Mary contracted Polio (including complete paralysis) two times by playing in an irrigation ditch and was healed both times by the administration of the priesthood (through/by dad).
Dad was an excellent example of good work ethics. Rulon spoke about a day he and Dad had gone to work in the pouring rain. They pulled out extension cords and started setting things up, so they could start work immediately once the rain let up. They waited in their vehicle while other cars pulled up and waited too. After 2 hours and the radio forecast showing it wasn’t going to let up, the other workers wrote down the 2 hours of waiting on their time cards and left. Rulon asked dad “So we’ve been here about 2 ½ hours, should we write that down?” And dad said “Did we work that 2 ½ hours?” Rulon said “Well no, but we were here ready to work.” And dad said “Son. Be honest with your employers. If you’re honest with your employer you’ll always have a job.” It was never okay for dad to take from someone without performing the work that earned it.
Dad taught several of us how to chop kindling skinny so it would light quickly and stack it like a teepee to build a fire. He also spent many of his weekends weeding the garden or fixing things around the house.
When Uncle Harvey was alive, he and dad would play chess for hours. One time mom sent Janet over to Aunt Ellen’s to get dad for dinner and told her to be sure to bring him back WITH her. His “I’ll be right there” turned in what felt like hours. Obviously mom had to reheat their dinner. It was just too hard to pull away the game..
Dad taught several of us kids how to play chess and some of us became good enough to win state trophies. Even when we were young, dad wouldn’t let us win. He was always challenging us to try to beat him. He made the kids work for what they got.
We couldn’t get through a Jessop funeral without some dad humor he told to the boys: You ready for this?
Lemonade Falles by I. P. Standing
Puddles on the Moon by I. P. Farther
Chocolate Mountains by Squat & Leave-em
Do you know Lizer? FertiLizer. Me knew ‘er.

Dad was able to take a few supplies home with him from the war. He kept his army gun in Aunt Carol’s closet. Us little kids would brag that dad had a bazooka, but learned later it was really his scope.
Dad was an excellent artist. Florence remembered having an assignment to draw a picture of Abraham Lincoln and dad said “I can do that” and then drew an amazing picture. He shocked everyone on several occasions with his artistic abilities.
Dad was really good at horseshoes. A campsite just wasn't complete until you had the horseshoe posts installed and the pits dug deep enough so the shoes wouldn't bounce.
Dad came home from work after he'd shot himself through the leg with a 16 penny nail gun. He explained that it had gone straight through his leg and Phil swears that when he leaned down to look at it, he could see light on the other side of the hole. Seems like dad got injured a lot, but his injuries never kept him home long. He had a high pain threshold and rarely complained about his discomfort.
Aunt Sheri and MaryDawn remember Alyce showing them a picture of Karl in his uniform. They thought he was so handsome and said he looked like the movie star Clark Gable. Florence remembers watching Gone With the Wind when she was little and excitedly running to tell her brothers and sisters that Dad was on TV!
Dad never said much, but if you asked him a question he always had a good answer. He thoughtfully would answer, it was never just a spit it out. He’d always think about it. It was always well worth waiting for him to find the words.
Melissa recalled that for birthdays they either got a gift or got to go out to dinner one-on-one, but not both. Most of the time she chose to go out, since that was such a rare treat to have time alone with dad and mom. It was on her birthday that they got in the bad crash that injured mom’s neck. Dad only had bumps and bruises and when the EMT’s came to check him out, he practically yelled at them that he was fine and to go help his wife and daughters (even though there were already EMT’s helping them and jaws of life trying to get mom out of the car. But that was typical of dad. Everyone else's needs came before his own.

Dad didn't have much, but he always showed up and contributed his time for those in need. Phil says “I never heard my dad say, " I can't". He was very devoted to his trade and never left a job unfinished.
Phil said he had never seen mom and dad fight. If dad ever raised his voice, he’d immediately catch himself and back down. He could not tolerate contention in the home for any reason and said he would rather just leave the situation than to argue with someone.
Vance remembers receiving an award at boys camp for looking most like his dad. They called it “The Little Kiddle” award. He’s often been stopped on the street by strangers saying “I know your dad” because he looked so much like him.
Once (Vance) got in trouble by dad for playing war with staple guns with some of the roofers. Dad warned him about being careful with those things, since he’s shot himself several times.
Thressa remembers dad always being very independent. As he got older and he needed help, he wouldn’t accept it because he didn’t want to be a burden. One thing with dad, if you started a school project and he saw what you were doing - especially if you weren’t doing it how he thought it should be done - Dad would inevitably take over and finish it.
Quarreling amongst ourselves was not something dad would tolerate. Many times the kids would get water thrown on them to “cool us down”. In fact, there were times we’d be driving and the only thing dad could find to change our focus was a can of soda. So guess what fluid got thrown on us to stop the fighting? Yep - you guessed it. And sitting for an hour in a car with sticky clothes and hair isn’t fun.
If we didn’t get up for family prayer or school, having a cup of cold water thrown on us was another thing us kids tried to avoid. You only had to get a cold shower in your bed once before you learned your lesson. Soon it was just the threat of it and you got up immediately!
Jessie tells of a trip to Antimony in June, where it snowed during the night. They decided to pack up the tent and leave since the snowstorm was not letting up. Dad took off to go fishing and we sat in the truck for like 3 hours waiting for him to come back. And he was like, “Hold on, I want to try one more spot, the fish are really biting.” My mom was so mad at him!

When we were little, dad would often lift us in the air with his feet doing “Superman”, or bounce us on his knee to “A Lady Goes a Nim” or other fun childhood games. He did that with his grandkids too, when he had the chance.
Dad was protective of his kids. One time his brakes went out going down the mountain and he crashed into a snowbank so no one would get hurt.
Enoch said “Dad could live to be a thousand and there still wouldn't be enough memories and hugs. He’s taught us all a lot of valuable lessons and those are things we’ll always keep with us.”
Dad took tender moments to connect with the kids willing to reach out to him, such as giving Enoch a father’s blessing on a trip to Antimony that he invited dad to. It was his first time receiving one.
Dad always bought KFC once a year, on Mothers Day. It was a rare treat that everyone looked forward to.
Dad was never one to take the spotlight or try to be noticed or draw attention to himself. Unfortunately everyone remembers the time he was standing on the roof straddling a truss while he cut off the end supporting one foot and fell two stories.
Dyan remembers when she was around 6 or 7, she had a cute little Koala lamp and the boys had cut the cord. She was devastated, so dad cut the cord off the toaster to fix her lamp. Of course, mom wasn’t so happy about that, but Dyan sure felt loved.
Sam recalls the first time he ever drove a car, he was about 10 years old. Dad had gotten a flat tire on his way home from work, near Redwood Road and didn’t have a spare. Somehow he got to the house but no one was home who could drive him back. So he grabbed the other car and had Sam go with him. Dad had Sam drive the other car home after the tire was fixed. Although it was only a mile or two, he was only 10 and could barely see over the steering wheel. Sam admits being scared to death, especially crossing the road before the river. He felt honored that dad would trust him with such a thing and that he’s still alive to tell about it. LOL.

Florence remembers playing in the ditch and we were trying to carve some wooden boards to float down the creek. So Dad carved a canoe out of a stick for her to use. It meant so much for dad to take time to do that for her.
Even as a young child, she preferred dad over mom and Mom would say “She’s a daddy’s girl”. Florence has lots of very sweet memories with dad because she sought him out and didn’t wait for him to come to her.
Dad wasn’t much for utilizing modern medicine for himself or his kids when he could help it. Once a piece of firewood fell off Aunt Loralee’s balcony above them and hit Melissa on the head. She had a huge gash and like all head wounds, it bled profusely. Dad told her “Oh you’ll be fine. Just put some glue on it.” It was washed and mom wondered if it needed stitches. She stepped away for a minute and sure enough, dad squirted some super glue on Melissa’s head. Melissa freaked out and when mom got back and found out, she said “What if you got her hair glued in it?” He said “It’ll be fine. Just comb it out.” He expected his kids to be tough like he was.
Dad didn’t talk much, but if you got him talking about the 8 hour meeting about going as a child with his father to meet Daniel R. Bateman, he’d talk for quite a while and tear up and have a hard time speaking because it meant so much to him. Others also remember him sharing that testimony.
Our family knew dad was a man of few words, but when you got one of his hugs you knew you were loved and he was glad you were in the family.
Any trip, no matter where they were going - they ended up in Antimony. A trip to Disneyland? Wahoo! Nope - couldn’t find the way, so they’d end up in Antimony. Yellowstone? Nope, Even if headed there they’d end up in Antimony.
Dad fulfilled his priesthood duties with joy. He gave lots of baby blessings, blessings for the sick, gave most of his sons the priesthood, and other fatherly duties in his life.
Jessie said “He was a good husband to my mom and even to the end, just wanted to take care of her. When I was younger, I remember him in the mornings saying, as he kissed my mom and left the house, “I want you kids to know that I love your mother.”

Dad had so many kids sometimes we wondered if he remembered our names. He was really good at pretending he did and would call us “Honey” and “Princess” and “Sweetheart” rather than risk the chance of getting our names wrong. If dad called us by name - it was usually because we were in big trouble for sassing our mom. Dad carried on the terms of endearments for his grandkids too, but that’s understandable when there’s hundreds of them. We can’t remember all their names either, so “Sweetheart” and “Cutie” works for us too.
Dad had very poor hearing. You had to really speak up or talk close to his ear for him to hear you. This likely contributed to why he stayed quiet and didn’t engage in conversation very often. 11
Most of the kids remember getting spanked by dad, sometimes for quarreling but usually for being disrespectful to a parent. Dad was generally a very patient man, but he did NOT tolerate disrespecting our mothers.
Dad would fold his belt in half and pull it tight and slap it against itself to make a loud sound. The kids were scared just by the sound and were crying before he even gave them a spanking.
In his later years, with Nicole and Thressa’s daughter Marie living at home, dad told them “If you don’t want me to eat your food you better put your name on it.” So, knowing dad’s love for ice cream, Marie made sure to write her name all over her new tub of ice cream. She came home soon after to find him eating it. She pointed out her name written all over the container and dad said “Oh I thought it was Marie Calendar. I thought it was just a new decorative design.” She said Grandma Alyce told her she’d just have to get used to putting food in the fridge and knowing it’ll be his.”
One of our sisters expressed her frustration over her “big hips and thighs” and dad said “Don’t worry honey, guys like girls with curves.”
They also knew if they made food and went to go to the bathroom or to grab something, when they came back he’d be sitting at the table eating their food. When they inquired why he was eating their food, he innocently said “Oh, you didn’t make this plate for me?”
Most of us kids loved playing cards with dad. He was competitive and didn’t give in easily to a strong hand in pinochle, even if it was his partner bidding against him.
When dad got older: he’d spend more quiet time at home, playing solitaire or yahtzee on the computer for hours trying to beat mom’s high score.
Phil got to take dad around to some of his doctor appointments toward the end. Dad told him he wasn’t scared to die, but he didn’t want to be a burden on others. He said he hoped people would remember him as a good guy, and that his children would think he was a good example.

Dad got shingles to redo mom’s roof. They sat on the top of the roof line for months and months. Dad didn’t like to start a job unless he had time to finish it and do it right the first time. I remember a stranger pulling over and mentioning that he’d seen the shingles sitting there for months in the weather and was worried they’d be ruined by the time people got around to using them and he volunteered to help. I got dad and he told the stranger that they’d be doing it soon. I guess the guilt got to him and to keep his word, the roof was finished that week… without further help from the stranger.
The last few days of dad’s life, he was too weak to even speak. He could barely utter 1-word responses. The last words he ever spoke on this earth were said to one of his sons who had come to say goodbye and tell him he loved him. Dad said the whole phrase: “I love you too”. Those words are for each of you too, in case you didn’t hear it often enough. Dad loves you with all his heart. He knows who you are. He knows your name. He treasures you, even if he didn’t use words to say it. Please never doubt how much he loved you. He’s now in a place where he can help and comfort you more than he was ever able to do on earth.
One of his granddaughters posted about dad: “I'm so grateful for his quiet strength. I have felt him from the other side, and know he loves me and that his testimony is firm.”
We’re sure dad’s helping build other people’s mansions in heaven, since his is already built and standing tall from his consecrated service and selflessness on earth.
We’ve received many sweet messages during this time of loss, but we’ll end with one that sums up our dad. Written by Janet’s dearest friend Alice Jessop Watson: “Your Dad was one of those noble spirits that shined through the darkness and gave others around him a light to follow... even though he himself probably never even knew it, because of his humble nature, his stalwart determination to live his testimony and serve God in his own quiet and silent way, through thick and thin. (That) was the very thing that gave so much strength to so many around him… Those are the words that best describe the man I saw, and I honor and love him so much for it.” And so do we dad. Thank you for your example, your love, and your legacy.