Deral Barton's Obituary
It is with great sadness to announce that after nine well-lived decades, Deral Barton passed away on February 7, 2025. Deral was born in Cedar City on October 16, 1934 to parents Rulon and Vivian of Paragonah, Utah. Deral’s family moved to Salt Lake when he was young, and Deral attended South High in Salt Lake City. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. He served from 1952 to 1957.
Deral studied at the University of Utah, earning a BFA in 1964 in drawing and painting and went on to pursue a graduate degree in the University of Utah's MFA program. During this time, he taught as an associate instructor of ceramics at the University of Utah. He additionally taught painting and drawing at the Utah Art Center from 1963 to 1966. His work is included in the permanent collections of museums and art centers throughout Utah, Wyoming, and Oregon as well as numerous business and private collections.
Always inspired by an idea, the ancient, the occult, the female form, Deral continued to create art throughout his lifetime right up through his last days – a collection of his life’s work can be viewed at deralbarton.com.
Beginning in 1968 until retirement, Deral owned and operated Art & Sign Company, a commercial sign business. In 1970, Deral and his good friend Ken Rodgers opened a leather goods company, Skin Company Productions at 9th and 9th, bringing clothing, sandals, and a new counterculture to that corner of Salt Lake City. Deral later went on to open B&B Observatory, a custom leather goods and clothing retailer, in Trolley Square Mall.
Deral loved continually learning throughout his lifetime. In his earlier years he was an outdoorsman skilled in fly fishing, camping, pinenut gathering, and mushroom foraging. Self-taught through books, he dabbled in homebrewing beer and wine in the early ‘80s – well before it became a popular hobby. He even crafted a still in his basement to make a few batches of moonshine! Though a master at traditional hand lettering and gold leaf, when digital sign production became mainstream, in his 60s, Deral taught himself the software needed and bought a vinyl plotter to keep up with business and technology.
Deral, a perfectionist at everything he put his mind to, was a great dresser, carpenter, golfer, skier, angler, bowler, and dancer. He became especially passionate about golf and enjoyed playing and sharing his love of the game with his family and friends. Deral was a loving and patient father and a doting grandfather, teaching his girls how to ski, bowl, understand football, enjoy the outdoors, attempt to hit golf balls, and to pursue their own artistic talents and endeavors.
Deral is preceded in death by his parents, his son Ivan, sisters Jean Stringfellow and Louise Stefko, fur companions Woofie, Louie, and Rickie, and far too many friends and art colleagues. He is survived by his wife Tena Holbrook, their dog Charlie, daughters Metra Barton (Danny Poate) and Nova (Brian Hayes), granddaughter Persephone Poate, favorite cousin Gaylord in Paragonah, and nieces and nephews.
Deral loved jazz music and a good party! Please go have a drink, learn something new, or listen to some Chet Baker in his memory!
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