Rex Pearmain

Funeral Recording

Rex Pearmain (“RP”), our beloved, husband, father, grand/great grandfather, crossed his finish line on April 18, 2021 surrounded by his forever family in his home as he moved from this earthly fan base to his heavenly fans.

He arrived at his starting line on July 16, 1939. RP, the son of Arthur and Beth Mower Pearmain, born with racing in his blood, came into this world full throttle. Never being a fan of hospitals, he was born in a sheep camp on the Fairview, Utah mountain where he spent many of his childhood days before moving to Salt Lake City, ultimately to the Sugarhouse area. That’s where in the 6th grade he caught the eye of his sweetheart Irene Stoof. She was always by his side as they would cruise up State and down Main, and he always made sure he had the fastest car at South High.  They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on December 4, 1959.

Rex and Irene quickly began to staff their family pit crew, Debi (deceased), Kenny (Elyse), Ricky (Amy), Steve (Heather), Kris (Randy) Clements and Kari. Papa RP’s junior pit crew consisting of 12 grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter were his pride and joy.

Having a passion for all things fast, RP owned and operated multiple service stations, and his automotive shop and towing business (Rex’s Auto).  He was the heart and crew chief of the legendary Top Fuel “Iron Horse” dragster, one of the first cars of the CRAGAR 5 Second Club (the first 16 cars to ever go 5 seconds in a quarter mile).  Rex’s racing career was ultimately culminated when he was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2019.

In addition to carrying a racing license and one of the few drivers to reach 200 MPH at Bonneville, Rex was a fully dedicated “card carrying” member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where he spent more than half of his life serving in leadership positions.  But his greatest service mostly occurred outside the walls of the church where he could organize service projects that rivaled getting a party of pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley. RP loved hard and was loved by the many he served. Above all, he loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Survivors include his wife, children, and grandchildren, Lindsay (Andy) Christensen, Ryan Pearmain, Easton Pearmain, Dylan Pearmain, McKenzie Pearmain (serving in the Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission), Parker Pearmain, Zach Pearmain, Trevor Pearmain, Kaylee Clements, Jamie Clements, Allie Clements, great grandchild Daisy Christensen; siblings Ed (Pat) Pearmain, Glen (Kathleen) Pearmain, Debbie (Frank) Zacherson, Jeff (Chris) Pearmain; brother-in-law Gary Jenkins; sisters-in-law, Elsa Stoof Berthold, Maria Stoof Bailey Scarlet, Marion Habeck Stoof; many special nieces and nephews, and wonderful friends who were like family to him.  Preceded in death by his sister, Pat Pearmain Jenkins.

A funeral service will be held at the Brighton 3rd Ward church building on 2301 E Bengal Boulevard, Cottonwood Heights, Utah 84121 on Saturday, April 24 at 10:00 AM with a viewing an hour before the service.  There will also be a viewing Friday, April 23 from at the church from 6:00 - 8:00.  Due to Covid, we ask that you please wear a mask.  The service will be live streamed through Cannon Mortuary at the following link https://www.facebook.com/CannonMortuary

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Humanitarian Aid Fund for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at

https://donate.churchofjesuschrist.org/donations/church/humanitarian-services/humanitarian-aid-fund.html?cde2=475-Humanitarian-home&cid=Humanitarian-home-donate-button&