Marlin Nile Shields

Marlin Nile Shields, our beloved father and grandpa, peacefully returned to his sweet wife and heavenly home on October 25, 2025, surrounded by family. Marlin was born on November 27, 1933 in Murray, Utah, the first son of David Nile Shields and Melva Leona Hardcastle. He spent his growing up years on a small farm in South Jordan and loved living near many cousins and family. Sports was always a big part of his life, and most of the activities of his youth involved some sort of ball. He attended Jordan High School and was a proud Beetdigger, excelling in basketball, baseball, and football. He received Jordan High’s Bills Award in 1952, an award given to the school’s outstanding athlete. He loved people, had many friends, and always worked hard.

Marlin’s greatest high school achievement, however, was meeting Claudia Jane Scoffield. Their love story began in high school and spanned for more than 70 years. They loved each other with all of their hearts and spent their lives serving and supporting one another. Marlin simply wasn’t complete without Claudia, and the same was true for her. They were, quite literally, a match made in heaven! Their marriage was sealed in the Logan Temple as Marlin attended Utah State University on a sports scholarship. He was recruited to play professional baseball with the St. Louis Browns out of high school, but decided an education would serve him and his family best. He excelled playing basketball and baseball for the Aggies and earned the nicknames “Guts” and “Ace” Shields there. After graduating from Utah State, he attended Stanford University on a physical therapy scholarship.

After graduating from Stanford, they returned to Utah and Marlin began his inspiring physical therapy career. He worked as a physical therapist at the University of Utah Hospital before becoming the Director of Physical Therapy at LDS Hospital. There he helped develop the Fitness Institute and served as its first director. He also served as president of the Utah Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, was on the Board of Directors for the National Arthritis Foundation, and was appointed to the National Arthritis Advisory Board. This cause was especially dear to him as his sweet mother suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. He went on to become the Director of Operations for IHC Therapy Management and finished his career as the Director of Rehabilitation Services at IHC. Marlin was also instrumental in establishing the University of Utah’s Division of Physical Therapy. He evaluated existing programs throughout the country, submitted recommendations based on his findings, helped develop the curriculum and staff the faculty, and was asked to serve as the acting director when it was founded in 1969. He also served on numerous committees, advisory boards, and professional organizations. He was innovative, kind, and an exemplary mentor and teacher who cared most about people.

Even with all of his professional accomplishments, Marlin’s most important job was always husband, dad, and grandpa. He loved and prioritized Claudia, his five children, and every grandchild and great-grandchild who joined the family, either by birth or marriage. His love had no boundaries, and all were welcomed with open arms. He found great enjoyment in sharing the sports he loved with his children and grandchildren and spent many years coaching their various teams. He also cherished the deep friendships he had, especially with those in the East Millcreek neighborhood where Marlin and Claudia spent the majority of their lives.

Marlin was a stalwart and devoted disciple of Jesus Christ and lived his life following His example. He felt privileged to serve in various callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, notably as a bishop of the East Millcreek 7th Ward and Stake Patriarch in the East Millcreek North Stake, giving hundreds of patriarchal blessings. He was so grateful for the many years he served alongside his sweetheart as an ordinance worker in the Salt Lake Temple, as well as a sealer in the Salt Lake and Jordan River Temples. He especially cherished serving with Claudia as missionaries in the England Leeds Mission. Together they gave their whole hearts to the people in North and South Shields, and they nurtured and treasured the friendships created there for the rest of their lives. Marlin spent his life becoming more like his Savior in word and deed. He loved the gospel of Jesus Christ and taught those around him its precepts through his Christlike example.

Marlin’s sense of humor was legendary! He made us smile and laugh all the time, even cracking jokes in his final days. His passion for sports never faded, and he continued to play whatever he could, including golf in his later years. He taught his family to invest in memories and spent his days doing just that. Some of our favorite memories together are celebrating his Thanksgiving birthday in Hawaii and Disneyland, boating at Bear Lake and on Echo glass, Lake Powell experiences, the Brighton cabin, many adventures in St. George, and lots of Utes, Aggies, and Jazz watch parties, complete with a 4th quarter Häagen-Dazs! We will miss his funny stories, well-timed jokes, the sound advice he always gave, and his constant expressions of love. And we will always remember that “any blue is Aggie blue!”

We are deeply grateful to the caregivers at Placement Care for the loving care they consistently gave our dad and grandpa over the last several months.

He was preceded in death by his eternal companion, Claudia, his parents, his brother, David Shields, and two sons-in-law, Hal Bourne and Steven Wilde. He is survived by his devoted children: Cynthia Bourne, Jayne (Tom) Bushell, Paul (Sandi) Shields, Ann (Scott) Jackson, Kay (Craig) Ward, 20 beloved grandchildren (and their 17 spouses), and 31 precious great-grandchildren, with two more on the way.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 3, 2025 at 12:00 pm. A viewing will be held Sunday, November 2, 2025 from 6:00-8:00 pm and from 10:30-11:30 am on the day of services. All services will take place at the East Millcreek North 11th Ward, 2702 E. Evergreen Avenue, Millcreek, Utah. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.