Hoyt William Brewster, Jr.

Funeral Recording - https://audio.funeralrecording.com/embed/24018a3c-bd66-11ee-8d16-0e93634d2851

Husband, Father, Grandfather, Teacher, Patriarch, Disciple of Christ  

Hoyt W. Brewster, Jr. passed through the veil on January 18, 2024.  He was born on March 12, 1938, to Hoyt William and Naomi Smith Brewster.  His name and blessing ordinance was performed by his grandfather, Joseph Fielding Smith in the Garden Park Ward.  He attended Emerson Elementary, Roosevelt Jr. High, and East High, where he was senior class president.

He graduated from the University of Utah where he was elected as the Men’s Association vice-president and president of the student senate.  He was a member of the Sigma Chi social fraternity and was chosen for membership in the Owl and Key honor  society.

He served on military active duty, in the Army Reserves, and in the Utah National Guard.  He also was a member of the Church Military Relations Committee.

Hoyt considered the prize of his life to be his eternal companion, Judy.  They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on November 21, 1963.  She supported him in his many Church callings and was the mother of four daughters and one son.  Their children and grandchildren adore her, and their home was referred to as “Grandma’s House.”

Hoyt loved Christmas and was known to play Christmas music throughout the year.  He was also known for his whistling and was invited to provide mini concerts whistling Christmas music.  This talent was also displayed at his places of employment as well as at home.

His life was devoted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, both professionally and ecclesiastically.  As a young man, he served a 34-month mission in the Netherlands and Belgium.  As the second counselor in the mission presidency, he participated in the organization of the first foreign speaking stake of the Church on March 12, 1960: the Holland Stake.  His love for the Dutch and Flemish continued throughout his life, and he returned to the Netherlands and Belgium as the mission president in 1996.  Hoyt also served as president of the Missionary Training Center in New Zealand, with Judy serving as the Relief Society president.  They were later called to direct the Mormon Trail Center at Winter Quarters in Nebraska and the Kanesville Tabernacle in Iowa.

Hoyt loved teaching and writing about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He taught seminary in Salt Lake and Cedar City and supervised seminary classes in the Los Angeles area.  He taught in the institutes of religion in Southern California and at the University of Utah.  He also taught at BYU and participated for many years in BYU Education week as an instructor and in the Know Your Religion program.  He served on several General Church writing committees, on the Church Materials Evaluation Committee (Correlation), and as the executive secretary of the Latter-day Saint Student Association.

He edited and wrote numerous lessons and articles.  He authored many books, including the groundbreaking Doctrine & Covenants Encyclopedia; Who’s Who: A Book of Mormon Ready Reference; Isaiah Plain and Simple; Defining Moments; Prophets, Priesthood Keys and Succession; and the best-selling Behold, I Come Quickly: The Last Days and Beyond.  He also contributed chapters and introductions in other books.

He earned a master’s degree from Brigham Young University where his high scholarship earned him membership in Phi Kappa Phi, a national scholastic honorary organization.  He earned a PhD in counseling from the University of Southern California.

Hoyt taught as an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University and Chapman College in southern California.  In addition to teaching in the Church Education System, he also worked in the Church Curriculum Department, the Temple Department, and as the managing director of the Priesthood Department.

Beginning in 1973, Hoyt and Judy established their home in the Butler area of the Salt Lake Valley.  In 2005, the area was incorporated as the city of Cottonwood Heights.  During his years there, he served as bishop of the Butler 23rd Ward, as a counselor in the Butler 36th YSA Ward, as a member of the Brighton Stake high council, as a counselor in the Brighton Stake presidency, and as stake president.  He was later called as patriarch of the Brighton Stake and the Cottonwood Heights Brighton Stake.  He also served on the high council of the University 2nd Stake and as patriarch of the Murray Utah YSA stake.

Hoyt is survived by his wife Judy, his daughters Kimberly (Russ) Carter and Hillary (John) Young, his son M. Hoyt (Shelly) Brewster, a son-in-law Rick (Teresa) Vassar, and 14 beloved grandchildren and soon-to-be five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister Anne (Steve) Neeley and a brother F. Craig (Laurie) Brewster.  He was preceded in death by two daughters: Kristen Brewster and Merrilee Fielding Vassar; and his sisters Myrle Stoker, Barbara (Donn) Amott, and Karen McMillin.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the Brighton 5th Ward chapel, 2301 E. Bengal Blvd. (7600 South), Cottonwood Heights, Utah.  The viewing will be held at the Cannon Mortuary, 2460 E. Bengal Blvd. (7600 South) on Friday, January 26, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and the day of the service from 9:30 – 10:45 AM at the Brighton 5th Ward chapel.  Interment in Mountain View Memorial Estates, 3115 Bengal Blvd., Cottonwood Heights, Utah.  

Thank you to the many family, friends, neighbors, members of the Cottonwood Heights Brighton stake, and the Brighton 5th Ward for your service to Hoyt.  He was so appreciative of your kindness and support and loved you dearly.